Over the past couple of weeks, I have been thinking a lot about the statistic that only about 1/3 of Catholics believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist. Putting aside that, clearly, some Catholics have fallen victim to the current Western culture of ever malleable, subjective truth, I am also thinking about a point that Fr. Teilo, one of the associate pastors at St. Andrew the Apostle, made during the homily this weekend about the Scripture readings.
Namely, to understand how some individuals end up as “bad people”, whether that be bad people in their professions, or with family and peers, or who live a life of crime and danger, we must ask what in their background and/or upbringing that influenced them into a life of being abusive to others. Fr. Teilo’s primary point was that professions, relationships, or any means of human interaction for that matter, will not necessarily change someone who is morally bankrupt.
That means there are good priests and some bad priests, good police officers and bad ones, good doctors and bad ones, and so on. That could easily spin into a bigger conversation about the expectations we set for each other, and what will it take for all of us to be of strong, moral character. However, that is an entire reflection alone, for another time.
In the meantime, what we do know – and which, unfortunately, is often an empty, self-help platitude – is that we as humans must get our own our lives in order first, before we attempt to help other people change their lives. Jordan Peterson, who is now one of the most famous clinical psychologists and intellectuals of our time, gives similar advice in his popular book 12 Rules for Life: “Clean up your own room before going out and helping others clean their rooms”. We also hear this advice as “You must be happy with yourself before being happy with others” – though this version Is a bit problematic, which is also for a separate reflection, for another time.
Nevertheless, no matter how much we appear to build good morals, no matter how intellectually impressive we become, no matter how much we have duped ourselves into thinking we have our rooms in order – we also know that appearances can be quite deceiving. Meaning that bad people do not always change because of their circumstances – even in environments or professions that serve people for a greater good.
Hence one of the core reasons that Jesus tells of the parable of Him as the vine, that we are the branches, and that we must be consistent in our relationship with Christ, in accepting his Grace, and live firmly by the Gospel. As a vine is responsible for supporting and nourishing the branches, the branches must willingly accept the vine, so that the branches can be pruned properly and continue to grow in communion with the vine.
Another way to explain this rich, vivid allegory: If we do not take any part of the Gospel message seriously; if we do not sincerely participate in all of the Sacraments that God has instructed us to receive; if we constantly weaken our spiritual branch to Christ, our Vine of salvation – then, as Christ says in John 15:6: “Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither…”. That is – and as heavy as this may sound – committing spiritual suicide. And when that happens, it usually leads to a life of “whatever makes me happy”—which, in turn, usually leads to other people becoming corrupt and fueling the fire of materialism and nihilism.
Which leads me back to the Eucharist: If we do not 100% believe that the Eucharist IS the Real Presence of Christ – and which is the all-encompassing reason we celebrate Mass – then how can we possibly take any other part of our Catholic life seriously? How can we as individuals remain a healthy, solid branch for the Vine if we are constantly bending, twisting, and manipulating it for our own personal gain? Doesn’t that fit right in with why we have Original Sin in the first place? That when we put ourselves and own subjective truth before God’s objective truth, we keep reliving Original Sin, over and over again?
This week, I pray for all those who have fallen away from believing in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. I pray that we Catholics band together and refocus on the Catechism. After all, the Church has been quite clear on the Eucharist since Christ first instructed us partake in it in His memory. If we don’t believe in Christ’s instructions, then what can we believe?
I will continue to reflect on this. In fact, I am thinking about writing a blog article / making a video entirely on the Eucharist, and hopefully further drive the point home that it is it not – at all – an optional truth.
And as a kind of amusing side bar to end this reflection: Even during my time as an atheist, I used to tell people exploring spirituality that if they were going to investigate any faith, it should be the Catholic faith. Specifically, the whole premise of the Mass is to have a powerfully transcendental experience with God; and that every Mass includes a *supernatural* event (transubstantiation).
Therefore, for the genuine seekers who want a deeply meaningful relationship with God, what more powerful way than to be in a miraculous, supernatural communion in God, through the Eucharist? Moreover, what more powerful way to honor and fully embrace Christ’s excruciating sacrifice and then glorious resurrection for *us*?
Keeping that in mind, it is more than time to put the Eucharist at the forefront of our Catholic faith journey.