The People of the Story!

Once upon a time there was a Rabbi.  Whenever he wanted God’s presence, he went to a special place in the woods, lit a fire, said some prayers, and did a dance.  Then God would appear to him.  When he died, his disciple did the same.  When he wanted God’s presence, he went to the same spot in the woods, lit the fire, and said the same prayers, but nobody had taught him the dance.  It still worked, God appeared.

When he died, his disciple carried on the tradition.  When he wanted God’s presence,     he went to the same spot in the woods and lit the fire, but he  didn’t know the prayers, or the dance, but it still worked, and God came.

After he died, his disciple too, whenever he wanted God’s presence, went to the same place in the woods. However, nobody had taught him how to light the fire, or say the prayers or do the dance, but it still worked, God appeared.

In the end, he died, but he too had a pupil.  One day this pupil wanted God’s presence.  So he searched for the place in the woods, but couldn’t find it.  And he didn’t know how to  light the fire or say the prayers or do the dance.  All he knew was how to tell the story.  And     it worked.  He discovered that whenever he told the story of how the others had found God, God would appear.

Today we come to this place - our Motherhouse - in the woods, surrounded by these prolific streams.  We have lit the fire; we have come to say the prayers and enter into the dance of the Eucharist.  All who celebrate this feast today come to hear the story again of how our God has appeared in our lives and continues to appear in Word, in the breaking of the bread, in our gathering together around the table, in the passing of the cup, in sharing a great mystery and a great gift which beckons us to go out in the world as people of peace, people of the story.

This feast combines two previously separate celebrations.  Originally, each feast concentrated on one aspect of the awesome mystery of the Eucharist – Corpus Christi and  the Precious Blood. Now together these feasts celebrate the incomparable love that God has for us. 

Each year the church invites us on this feast of The Body and Blood of Christ to think about the Eucharist and what it means to us who receive the body and the blood of Jesus.  We come because of the story, we remember, we celebrate, we believe.  

As a Eucharistic people, we come to share this holy meal; we come to be in communion with one another in Christ Jesus.  We come to be a community around this table where we are reconciled.  We gather to hear the Word, break the bread, pass the cup, forgive one another, love one another, and make peace with one another and the world.

We are commanded as disciples to go forth from here into the world to be people of generosity, compassion, creativity, honor, forgiveness, and mercy, and be non-violent in word, heart, mind, and fist.  And it will work, God will appear. 

For we are a people of the story. And no matter where we go upon the earth, when we  share the story, the place becomes holy, the fire will appear, the words become the prayer,   the dance begins again, and it will work.  God will appear.