By: Shirley Carter
Director of Hilltop Catholic Campus Ministry: West Liberty University & Bethany College
I recall many years ago as part of a class assignment, having to write a paper reflecting on the question “Is Eucharist a noun or a verb?” This will be easy, I thought as I immediately began to prepare some notes describing everything I had learned as a child about the Blessed Sacrament and the True Presence of Christ. I also fondly recalled the many experiences that confirmed what I was taught: my First Communion, Eucharistic Adoration, Forty Hours processions to name a few. The answer was obvious. Eucharist is a noun. Jesus is present in the Eucharist calling us to worship Him with reverence and humility. We hear it proclaimed at Mass. “Behold the Lamb of God.” And then we approach the altar and echo our belief with an Amen, as we hear the words, “The Body of Christ,” The Blood of Christ.” Yes, Eucharist is a noun.
But upon further reflection and research, my eyes were opened and my childlike faith was challenged to look deeper into this mystery. Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist, receiving Him sacramentally, calls us to yet another reality. As we are transformed by Christ’s presence, we are called to be transformational as well by being a Eucharistic presence to others. My kneejerk response to the assignment was now being tempered with the thought that maybe, just maybe, Eucharist is a verb. This holy and sacred sacrament, this bread for our journey calls us to go forth and become that bread for others on their journey. It calls us to serve others, to make a connection between Sunday and Monday (and every other day of the week). At the conclusion of each Mass, we receive a blessing and hear this call verbalized as we are sent forth with words such as “The Mass is ended, go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.” The very word Mass comes from the Latin word missa from which the English word mission is derived. And what is this mission? It is going forth from the table of the Lord and making a difference in our world as we serve those in our families, our neighborhoods, and our communities.
I’ll save you all the details but as you can well imagine, I concluded (probably obvious to many) that it is not necessary to make Eucharist an either/or concept. Eucharist is a both/and, the source and summit, an opportunity for a personal relationship with Our Lord and Savior, and a call to action. A call to be Christ to our world.
This is best illustrated at the Last Supper. To Jesus’ friends, it was another Passover meal. And although the apostles weren’t aware of it, Christ knew what was going to happen afterward. He knew, as we now call it, that it was the “Last Supper.” He could have easily made it all about Himself, but what did He do? Before He gave them (and us) the gift of Himself, He interrupted the meal and got down on His knee to serve them by washing their feet! The King of the Universe doing something that servants did! How confusing and troubling that must have been! We read in John’s gospel. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” (John 13:6-9) In addition to this seeming confusion, wasn’t the timing really off? He interrupted the meal….the Passover meal! But as we all know, God’s timing is perfect and this must have been the perfect time to teach all of us what it means to be a Eucharistic people, in the breaking of the bread and the washing of the feet.
“Why did Christ interrupt the Passover meal to do this wondrous deed? Christ and the apostles had already begun the supper. When Christ returned to the table after washing their feet, He began to teach. He underlined the message. “Do you understand what I just did for you … If I washed your feet – I who am Teacher and Lord – then you must wash each other’s feet. What I just did was to give you an example: As I have done, so you must do.” As a people who bend our knees in adoration before the Eucharistic Lord, we are sent out of the church door inspired, motivated, and driven to do what Christ has commanded. We must seek to transform our homes, our neighborhoods, and our society. As sweet as it is to worship God with our brothers and sisters at the Eucharist when we direct our gaze heavenward, we must go out the church door and direct our gaze outward to those around us.” (On Bended Knee pastoral letter, Bishop Anthony Bosco, 2001)
I have learned a lot since that written assignment many years ago. I don’t profess to understand all that there is to know about the most wonderful, sacred gift of the Eucharist. But I do know that I am blessed….blessed to be part of a church that professes Jesus presence in the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist and blessed to be part of a church that calls each one of us to be that presence in our world. Yes, Eucharist is a noun AND Eucharist is a verb AND Eucharist is profoundly so much more!