Universalis, About this blog

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Unity and the Eucharist

"So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate." (Matthew 19:6) "The chalice of benediction which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?" (1 Cor 10:16) Our salvation depends on our unity with our redeemer, Jesus Christ, because he is the way, the truth and the life. To be severed from him means we lose the way, the truth and the life, i.e., we become lost, we become blind and we sicken and die. Where do we derive this unity? Most Christians already know that it begins at baptism, when we die to (original) sin and rise to a divine life with Christ. But while Christ stands outside time and remains our redeemer for all time, we have this thing called a lifetime. And in this lifetime, we must remain always in communion with Christ. How do we unite with Christ? By becoming of one flesh with him. By a communion of the blood of Christ and a partaking of his body. Why am I making a big deal of flesh and unity? Because the Lord is, too. Not only in the oneness of flesh that exists between man and woman joined by God, but also in the oneness of Man and God: "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." There was compelling enough reason for our awesome God to be made flesh AND to dwell among us: to be one with us, so that we can be one with him. And this is not just a spiritual oneness but a fleshy oneness. And why not, when the flesh meant so much to the Lord himself who willed to be born in the flesh, and to take our sins upon his own body. And why not when the Lord sees fit to not only will to save our souls but also to will to raise us up, body and soul, on the last day.

No comments: