Apostleship of Prayer
Questions and Answers Number Sixty-Six.
One good turn?
When I need help with my computer I invite my friend Spiro over for a cuppa. Not a computer whiz, he knows more than I do. Whenever there is a problem, he says: “Just a minute, let us see what the instruction manual has to say.”
And so we advance, step by step, until the problem is solved. A retired teacher, he is very methodical. A retired teacher, he has more time to devote to a problem. Though a retired teacher, he never stops learning.
For a couple of hours I picked his brains. He seemed to enjoy it. Then, just as he was about to leave, it was his turn to pick mine. “Can I ask you a religious question?” Well, one good turn deserves another!
Recently, we celebrated Mass to thank God for the gifts He had given to our sister Peppa who died in England. At that Mass all received the Eucharist except him. “You see, he explained, I don’t want to be a hypocrite. I just don’t believe in the Real Presence. Did I do wrong?”
Here is my reply: “The Real Presence is indeed a mystery. Much ink and much blood have been spilled in tackling this question. However, the Vatican Council II did state:
1. that when we gather for Mass, the Lord is already present in our midst. (Cf: “Whenever two or three of you are gathered in my name, there am I in your midst”)
2. that the Lord is also present in his Word at the readings.
3. that the Lord is also present when the bread and wine are changed into His Body and Blood at the consecration.
Consequently He is present in a variety of ways, which we do not always understand fully.Then I said: “When I invite you to dine with us you come and share our company. You may not like all the food we present before you, but you won’t starve. You will eat what you can. The central point is the companionship we share with one another.
So too at Mass, those present have different levels of faith, of understanding, of acceptance. Next time you share in the celebration of the Mass (the Supper of the Lord) accept the Eucharist at your level of understanding and believing.”
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