Let us BLOOM by Recognizing Christ in the Breaking of the Bread
Happy Easter to all!! We here at Holy Family invite you to BLOOM with us this Easter Season as we continue our Be More Movement of Growth. This ambitious initiative will be built upon two pillars – Conversations in the Spirit and Eucharistic Renewal.
The first is rooted in an ancient form of spiritual and church growth called The Synodal Process. Our own Cardinal Cupich has given that fancy church term a simpler moniker – Conversations in The Spirit. We have already begun to lead several groups in our community through this process that emphasizes genuine listening and through a simple structure that honors all voices in the process. There are six major issues that these conversations will focus on during the next two years.
Something that really sets this process apart here at Holy Family is our desire to listen to you and to many other voices and input. Our strong hope is that this listening and discussing will surface prominent spiritual themes that will guide our movement forward as a parish. We want to hear from you! We want to listen to you! We value your opinion!
Listening is more critical than ever as we move forward in many aspects of our lives. Listening to each other will help us BLOOM.
The second pillar is focused on a deeper appreciation for and a more active participation in the celebration of the Eucharist during Mass. The guiding scripture passage for this pillar is the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). Please take few moments to read it.
This passage takes place on the very first Easter late in the afternoon. Two disciples are walking away from Jerusalem, the site of Jesus’ crucifixion. In their minds and eyes Jesus has died and that prevents them from recognizing him as he joins them on their walk. But their hearts begin to burn as Jesus travels with them. He interprets every passage of scripture that refers to Him.
When they arrive at Emmaus Jesus acts as if he is going farther, but they implore him to stay and have dinner with them. They are obviously intrigued by him but they do not fully recognize who he is yet.
When he sits down with them and takes, blesses, breaks and shares the bread, that is when THEY RECOGNIZE HIM. The story then tells us they recalled how their hearts burned as Jesus spoke to them about the scriptures earlier on the road.
A critical part of BLOOMING and GROWING is continually recognizing Jesus in the breaking of the bread at Mass.
Notice how important scripture is in the story. Reflecting on scripture is central to the whole Eucharistic experience. Communion is one part of the Eucharist. The proclamation of Scripture is another. Please take advantage of the many scripture offerings we have here at Holy Family from Bible series, to Small Christian Communities, to podcasts on our website.
Please investigate countless other scripture resources available online. Renewal of the Eucharist for you might entail searching for resources to heighten your knowledge of and appreciation for scripture which will, in time, heighten your appreciation of the Eucharist.
At the beginning of the Emmaus story the disciples are downcast, walking AWAY from Jerusalem. After both scriptural and bread experiences, their spiritual eyes are open and they not only recognize who Jesus is, they are inspired to turn BACK to Jerusalem to share this recognition with the other disciples. Talk about an experience of BLOOMING!
Recognizing Jesus in a real way in the Eucharist can, like those two disciples, help us to open our eyes to Christ. With just a little reflection it can also lead us to re-appreciate earlier experiences of our lives and perhaps even help identify how and why our hearts burned or at least stirred.
So, recognition of Christ is not simply a present moment experience. Scripture, the inspired word of God, can always help us to review and remember previous experiences of depth and meaning and how they moved our hearts.
The Eucharist is about gratitude at its heart. The early church were people who were profoundly grateful that Jesus identified himself with bread and wine, making him present over and over again, and in the vein of the covenant was a promise that the breaking of the bread and the recognition of him would last forever.
Perhaps we overlook these things and more if we regularly celebrate the Eucharist. Perhaps we have gotten into a consumer rut of simply receiving Communion. Please do not misunderstand me, receiving Jesus in the Eucharist is the greatest gift there is in my opinion. But please read or perhaps re-read the Emmaus story and let it stimulate your imagination. Don’t let your dashed hopes and life’s challenges and busyness prevent you from recognizing the Lord.
Allow the stories of scripture at Mass to help you to appreciate your story.
Renewal in the Eucharist can be incredibly simple. Try sitting in another seat or section of church. Try reading the scripture passages before Mass. Sign up to be a proclaimer of scripture, an usher or a Eucharistic Minister.
To grow and BLOOM are agricultural terms that can have significant spiritual implications. Let’s BLOOM together as we enter into the new life of Easter instituted by Jesus on the first Easter morning, enhanced by his encounter with the two disciples walking toward Emmaus, and extended and renewed by our Be More Movement of Growth.
Happy Easter!