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October 11, 2005
Fr. Barry's Intervention at the Synod
"The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the Blood of Christ?" (I Cor 10:16) With these words, St. Paul reminds us of the circle of communion that is created by participation in the Eucharist.
In sharing in the Eucharistic cup, God invites us to renew the covenant relationship with Him, as the basis of all other relationships. For reconciliation is indeed a gift from God, ''Who has reconciled us to himself in Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation...So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us" (2 Cor 5:18-20).
The aim of that reconciling ministry is to overcome hatred, injustice, and division. But its ultimate goal is the bringing of peace, the peace that Christ has won by the blood ofhis cross (cf. Col 1:20), the peace that reconciles all things in Christ.
The communion achieved in the reconciling Blood of Christ empowers us to be bridge builders, truth-tellers, and the healers of wounds. Our "amen" when receiving communion affirms not only the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist; it invites us to be bread broken and blood poured out, life given, for the life of the world. We become as it were "living chalices" carrying the Precious Blood of Christ, that sacred balm, to those who are in need of healing in their brokenness, to those wounded by poverty, to those left half dead by the wayside, scorned and scarred by prejudice, racism, and war.
As "ambassadors of reconciliation" (2 Cor 5:20) we offer the Blood of Christ to a world thirsty for harmony with God, with humanity and with all creation. The Blood of Christ quenches the thirst for that communion in which people of great diversity can come together in deep and abiding unity, and calls us to be Eucharistic communities which embrace those who are distant, separated, or cut off.
Participation in the Eucharist strengthens and emboldens us to dream a different history, to build a new world, a world that conforms to God's plan for humanity as revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. at October 11, 2005 11:10 PM
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Comments
Thanks, Father Jeff!
Posted by: Maureen Lahiff at October 12, 2005 10:10 AM
Quoting from Fr. Keyes' own blog:
"Who has reconciled us to himself in Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation...So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us" (2 Cor 5:18-20).
The aim of that reconciling ministry is to overcome hatred, injustice, and division.
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I came to this blog to dip into the ruminations of Fr. Keyes, having met him and enjoyed sharing a meal, great conversation and possibly the beginning of friendship.
I've read it for quite some time now and I have to say, I come away feeling distressed by the divisiveness and clubby atmosphere. There is definitely an in-group as opposed to the vast majority who belong to the outcasts. I don't see any of the reconciliation Jesus embodied.
I belong to the great unwashed who seek God through the protestant tradition. I see Fr. Keyes denigrating the syntax-- phrases like "personal relationship"-- without understanding that the same longing for Christ embodies both traditions.
I am not Charismatic but I cannot believe it honors God to publically criticize a segment of his flock that approach their faith with a different cultural expression.
Consider the Catholics in Africa. I have a recording of a mass called Missa Luba-- it is pure worship from the first note to the last. Would you take those vibrant believers and shoehorn them into your traditional medieval European rhythm of worship?
Dividing people by their forms of worship, like Charismatics or other cultural groups; or by their particular tradition, as in Catholic or Protestant; is the antithesis of what Christ taught.
Posted by: Wendy Lawton at October 20, 2005 9:22 PM
I have no problem with the cultural form, and can even share it. Misa Luba is one of my favorites.
My complaint, and that is all it is, is with the content of the Charismatic songs. There is little or no content consistent with Catholic, and there are many, forms of worship.
Posted by: FrKeyes at October 20, 2005 10:41 PM