25 February 2005
General Topic:
The Year of the Eucharist
Johannesburg Intervention
The Eucharist and Social Justice. (cf. CCC 1397).
Prof. Stuart C Bate OMI (Johannesburg): –
In the Anamnesis of Eucharist Prayer II, the Priest prays these words on behalf of the whole community:
May all of us who share in the body and blood of Christ be brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit. (EP II)
They are immediately followed by the first Intercession of the Eucharist prayer, which asks
Lord, remember your Church throughout the world; make us grow in love together with John Paul our Pope, {name} our bishop, and all the clergy. (EP II)
These two themes of unity and love help us recognise that the Eucharist provides spiritual fruits which empower us in our Christian lives. These fruits have a specifically social dimension. The first citation emphasises the importance of social unity, which is so necessary, especially in a world easily prone to division, prejudice and fear. The second recognises the power of love in the construction of human solidarity. The specificity of Christian love is particularly clear in the words of Jesus to love our enemies (Matthew 5: 44) and to serve the poor, the hungry and the needy (Matthew 25: 34-40).
In fact, our faith teaches us that reconciliation between enemies and the promotion of service to the poor bring enormous rewards to the human community. They make the world a better place because they run counter to conventional wisdom regarding self, family and group preservation. This is why it is important for Christians to be involved in action for social justice and, indeed, why we should be at the forefront of initiating such action. 'To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognise Christ in the poorest, his brethren" (CCC 1397).
One of the fruits of sacramental grace is the ability to act, in the power of the risen Lord, as apostles who collaborate in making God's Kingdom present in the world. Full participation in the Eucharist is an ongoing source of this grace. It empowers us to become bearers of the real presence of Christ to those we encounter day by day. St Jerome reminds us that we dishonour the real presence of Jesus when it has no effect in our lives. He says:
You have tasted the Blood of the Lord, yet you do not recognize your brother,. . . . You dishonour this table when you do not judge worthy of sharing your food someone judged worthy to take part in this meal. . . . God freed you from all your sins and invited you here, but you have not become more merciful. (St. John Chrysostom, Hom. in 1 Cor. 27, 4: PG 61, 229-230; cf. Mt 25:40.)
The Eucharist provides us with spiritual food which sustains us as the body of Christ in the world, following the mission of Jesus to the poor, to captives and to the oppressed to bring good news and a time of great favour (Cf. Luke 4: 16-19)
CCC The Catechism of the Catholic Church.