During these trying times it is easy to become discouraged. A recent break-in at the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria has contributed to this attitude.
A group of individuals stole the tabernacle which is the place where the Blessed Sacrament (Body of Christ) is reserved outside of mass.
Why would this theft be so shocking for Catholics? The answer can be found in the following scripture passage.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus says some things that many in the crowd found controversial. In fact, after hearing him, many decided to no longer be his followers.
Here is the statement: “I am the bread of life … Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.” (John 6:35; 53-55)
My Roman Catholic faith tradition has always taught that these words are to be taken literally and not simply symbolically. We believe Jesus means what he says, “for my flesh is true food and my blood true drink.” This is what we call the real presence of Christ in the eucharist.
In the teachings of Vatican II we find the various ways in which Christ is present in the Sacred Liturgy. He is present in the person of the minister, in the community gathered in worship, in the Sacred Scriptures, and is most fully present under the appearances of bread and wine.
During the celebration of mass, at the consecration, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus. Even though their taste and appearance remain the same, they have been substantially transformed and are no longer merely bread and wine.
For some, this teaching is just as difficult to accept today as it was at the time of Jesus. One reason may be that we have nothing in our natural order to use as a reference point. What is happening is supernatural.
This is a mystery that must be experienced rather than understood. This happens when we focus on our relationship with Christ. The ‘why’ becomes more important than the ‘how.’
Jesus loves us so much that he feeds us with himself. He wants us to be spiritually strong and have a full life. With all other food, what we eat becomes part of us. With the holy eucharist, we become part of what we eat. Jesus wants to be united to us in holy communion.
I offer all of this background in order to explain why the recent break-in and theft at the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria is considered such a tragedy for Catholics.
Like Mary Magdalene on the morning of the Resurrection, we echoed her words of anguish, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” (John 20:13)
We were very fortunate that the day after the robbery, the tabernacle was found half submerged in the old Welland Canal near Centennial Park in St. Catharines. Sadly, the Blessed Sacrament was not found. It is my hope and prayer that the Hosts have dissolved in the water.
I am grateful to all those individuals who responded with prayers and acts of kindness. I especially thank the Cathedral parishioner who organized the search that eventually found the tabernacle.
We will always find good people in times of difficulty and that is what helps us to overcome our discouragement.