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Daily Scripture

+ 7th Week of Easter

Much ado about nothing or, is there something to it?

Readings: Acts 19:1-8 Psalm 68:2-7 John 16:29-33

Paul traveled through the interior of the country and down to Ephesus where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They answered him, “We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” [Acts 19:1-3]

Depending on one’s sacramental theology and pastoral practice, this text has been variously interpreted. For example, those who work with the RCIA (catecheumenate) hold that the sacrament of Confirmation should be administered with Baptism as it was in the early Church. It is one of the sacraments of initiation—Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. The Eastern Rite of the Roman Catholic Church has retained the tradition of administering all three at Baptism. Yes, the infant receives a small piece of the Eucharist bread. And so in the Eastern Rite, there is no formal celebration of First Holy Communion at the age of reason or Confirmation by the bishop at whatever age the local diocese has determined the age of maturity appropriate for Confirmation. All three sacraments are administered shortly after birth.

Others feel that the celebration of First Communion and Confirmation at a later age ensures the participation of youngsters in parish religious education programs – at least until Confirmation. In this case, many Catholics view Confirmation as the completion of or graduation from religious studies.

In recent years I have become convinced that the RCIA folks and the Eastern Rite Catholics have it right. All three sacraments of initiation should be administered together. First Holy Communion and Confirmation have become more social than spiritual. I do not mean to suggest that there is no connection or that there should be no celebration after sacramental ceremonies but for many, the accent is on the wrong syllable.

The path from Baptism to Christian maturity is life-long and the benchmarks for progress are not easily measured by grouping children by age or grade level for a period of preparation that is largely academic.

This is not to suggest that religious education is optional. Faith development is unique to each person within the context first of family and then of parish. Religious education / formation is intended to provide insight into faith development at an age-appropriate level.

Catholicism has become ‘child-centered’ the result of which, we have an adult population whose religious and spiritual development stopped at Confirmation.

The celebration of Eucharist is the primary setting for faith formation. Religious education is a necessary component but detached from Eucharist, it remain just another subject to master.

Of course this all assumes that the parish celebration of the Eucharist is truly inclusive and meaningful rather than just an empty ritual. The parish at worship should be a rendition of a community of faith that strives to live its faith ‘in the town square’ as I mentioned in Sunday’s homily.

Notwithstanding my commitment to religious dialogue, I do believe that effective dialogue is based on the assumption that although both parties are knowledgeable about the topic. Though they may have different perspectives, they are not based on ignorance of the subject.

Feast of Corpus Christi

Saturday June 5, 2010

My Favorite Bread

“Hi. My name is Kenny Lasch and my favorite bread is cinnamon raisin bread.”

The preparation for First Holy Communion in every Catholic parish is very special as I am sure it is for every Catholic family. However, the preparation at a parish where I was pastor for many years included the celebration of ‘family night’ one week prior to First Communion to which candidates brought their favorite bread.

The meeting opened with first communion candidates identifying themselves and the name of their favorite bread for example, “My name is Mary Jones and my favorite bread is….”

When I was a child, the variety of bread was limited to plain white, whole wheat, rye, raisin and pumpernickel. The variety today is extraordinary. Perhaps parents are behind the variety of favorite breads because some of the children have said, “My name is… but I can’t remember the name of my favorite bread;” something exotic no doubt.

There is banana bread, pumpkin, zucchini, monkey bread, cinnamon raisin bread; white mountain, Italian, French, Irish soda bread, potato pistachio nut bread, and the list is endless.

The bread was blessed at the start of the meeting and shared during the making of banners. The greatest challenge of course was getting the children to help their parents assemble the banners. It was painful to watch moms and especially the dads trying to cut felt letters with children’s scissors.

One of the lessons the children learned is that the bread we share with one another during this session becomes part of us. Different though we all are, one from another, we are able to cross barriers through the sharing of different kinds of bread. Sharing a meal often has that effect. We are a family kneaded and bonded in Christ.

The second lesson is that the bread that we share at the Eucharist table is different. It is plain unleavened flour mixed with water and it tastes flat. The children learn that it is not the taste that matters because this is bread for the soul, bread for the spiritual journey. Moreover, at this table we become the bread that we eat and over time we are transformed into the body of Christ. That is the exact name that St. Paul used to describe the early followers of Christ. This is the bread that makes us truly one family.

The third lesson the children learned in the course of their preparation is the important connection between the Eucharist table and their family table. When I used to ask them, “Where is the most important table in the parish?” They would point to the Eucharist table. “And the second most important table?” They responded: “Our family table!” And the third? “The table of humanity.” Yes, and we need to keep the three tables connected.

What would life be like without our family table? It is where family memories are unpacked—the bad as well as the good. Think of all the family stories that have been shared at your table—stories that made you laugh and stories that made you cry but all of them healing stories that kept you faithful and in touch with loved ones who have come and gone throughout the years. Videotapes can’t really capture the soul of the story—we need the story to be told live and unrehearsed.

And this is why we gather every week at this table and this is why you gather at your family table every day during which you break bread and share more stories about all the bread that you have broken through the years. The sharing of cherished memories is sacred, yes, even sacramental. You have broken the bread of your lives over and over again—sacrificially. No, life hasn’t always unfolded the way we planned or hoped for. But we are here today because we count at the Jesus’ table.

Consider how often Jesus sat at table with his friends and even with sinners. The story of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes appears six times in the four gospels. Take note of the eucharistic language in Luke’s narrative: “Then taking the two loaves and five fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.” Luke is preparing us for ‘The Supper’ during which Jesus took the bread, blessed and broke saying, ‘this is my body.’”

It is not surprising then, that Jesus would chose the table and the most basic of foods as the vehicle through which he would continue his presence among his followers.

We become what we eat at this table so that we can become bread blessed and broken at the table of humanity.

Just as we can’t do life without our family table so we can’t do life without the Eucharist.

“Hi, my name is Kenny Lasch and my favorite bread is the Eucharist Bread.”