The month of June this year begins with the feast of Corpus Christi, or the Body of Christ. It is an opportunity to give thanks to God for the wonderful gift of the most Holy Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood in the Eucharist or Holy Communion. The day when we remember the institution of the Eucharist is Maundy Thursday, but as this day is overshadowed by the events of Holy Week, the Church has for many centuries set apart the first opportunity to do this after the Easter festival is over.
'Bread is the stuff of life' and the 'foodstuff that sustains us', so we are told. The smell and taste of fresh bread, as it is broken open to be shared, is one of the delights of life. Bread is also a powerful symbol of the resurrection. A loaf can only be made from a grain of wheat, and when yeast is added and it is turned into dough, placed into a hot oven and the whole mixture rises to become one loaf.
The broken bread reminds us of the promise of new life. A loaf cannot be shared until it is broken. So an important action in the liturgy of the Eucharist is called the Breaking of Bread and indeed that is one of the titles given by the Church for this holy celebration. It reminds us of how Christ's Body was broken on the wood of the cross and how we in our own turn must be broken and used in God's service. Our Lord's death and His broken Body, become His life-giving Body through the power of the resurrection. As we share in bread of the Eucharist at Holy Communion, we too share in his risen life.
Bread is made from many grains and becomes a powerful symbol of the unity of the Church, the Body of Christ. It is a sad reminder of our broken unity and divisions that it is not possible for Christians to share the one bread. Only when the Church becomes truly one again can we share in the one bread of the Eucharist. We must continue to pray for that unity and that the whole Church will become truly one again in one body.
When the bread of the Eucharist is consecrated after having the words of Jesus Himself spoken by a properly ordained male priest - "This is my Body", they become truly and in a wonderful and mysterious way, THE Body of Christ Himself present upon the altar. We call this, the "Real Presence". The disciples on the road to Emmaus in that lovely story following the resurrection, did not at first recognise the risen Lord. It was only after He had broken the bread with them, that they recognised Jesus in this action. "Did not our hearts burn within us?" they said. Do we recognise Jesus in the breaking of bread at every Eucharist? Do we recognise Jesus in the tabernacle in the weekday chapel, reserved there for the sick, the dying and for our own devotion. The white light of the silver lamp burning day and night to remind us that He is truly present.
At St George's we are fortunate in having a daily (not Monday) offering of the Holy Eucharist in our church. As we receive Him in Holy Communion, we ourselves become the Body of Christ and we pray, "send us out in the power of your Spirit". If we wish to honour our risen and ascended Lord, then do not disdain Him, do not ridicule Him, do not ignore Him, or Scorn Him, do not add Him to our gossip list. Recognise Him in the breaking of bread, and recognise Him in the poor and the outcast and in every situation of daily life, every person we will meet. Having worshipped and honoured Him at the altar of our church, we must be careful not to leave Him outside. 'Blessed, praised and hallowed be Jesus Christ on His throne of glory and in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.'
God bless you all.
Your friend and priest.
written by Fr Malcolm Ferrier
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page last updated 8 JUNE 1997