ANNUAL FORTY DAY FAST
for the
TRUTH OF GOSPEL NONVIOLENCE
The earliest account of the institution of the Lord’s Supper is by St. Paul. It reads as follows:
“For I received from the Lord what I also hand on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night He was handed over, took bread, and after He had given thanks, broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes.
Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself” (1 Cor 11: 23-29).
THE NEW AMERICAN BIBLE, (REVISED WITH IMPRIMATUR, 1991)
“The meaning of the formula, “Do this in remembrance of me,” in this context is determined by verse 26 “you proclaim the Lord’s death.” The death of Jesus, which is an act of love, is proclaimed existentially in and through the eating and drinking. Authentic remembering is imitation of Christ, whereby God’s saving love is made present effectively in the world. From this perspective it is clear why the comportment of the Corinthians [refusing to share their bread with other Christians who did not have enough to eat] made an authentic Eucharist impossible. If participants in the Eucharistic meal are not united in love, they class themselves among those who murdered Jesus” (emphasis added).
THE NEW JEROME BIBLICAL COMMENTARY ON 1 COR11:23-29
Catholic Commentary on the Bible (Imprimatur 1988)
“Jesus taught that violence belongs to the Reign of Satan, and that men must expel violence if they wish to liberate themselves from the Reign of Satan. If Jesus did not reject any type of violence for any purpose, then we know nothing of him.”
– Rev. John L. McKenzie, Catholic Biblical Scholar
“Become what you receive, receive what you are.”
– St.Augustine on the proper disposition for the reception of Holy Communion
What is the correct name to be placed on this normal, commonly occurring, traditional Christian activity: a group of Christians with their Christian military chaplain celebrating the Eucharist at 9 A.M. on the east side of a battle line, while another group of Christians with their military chaplain is celebrating the Eucharist at 9 A.M. on the west side of a battle line, with both groups intending to go forth and slaughter each other at 11A.M.?
Would it make any spiritual difference, or difference to Jesus, if the group on the east side was not Christians and was therefore not celebrating the Eucharist at 9 A.M.?
-ECM
