THE EUCHARIST AND THE POOR

By Daniel Franklin E. Pilario, CM

Before the end of the day, on this day of the Eucharist, let me post this poster. Someone sent it to me just now. I even forgot I said something like this at the International Eucharist Conference in Cebu in 2016. Salamat RJ Oh for reminding.

But reading St. Paul affirms what I have believed ever since: "For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it. 19 Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine. When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord’s supper. For when the time comes to eat, each of you goes ahead with your own supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk. What! Do you not have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?... Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an "unworthy manner" will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord." (1 Cor. 11: 17-34)

Even if many do not have access to the Eucharistic Body of Jesus, during the pandemic, his emaciated body in the sick and the hungry is just outside your door. St. John Chrysostom said: "Do you wish to honor the Body of Christ? Do not despise him when he is naked. Do not honor him here in the church buildings with silks, only to neglect him outside when he is suffering from cold and from nakedness… Of what use is it to load the table of Christ? Feed the hungry and then come and decorate the table. You are making a golden chalice and you do not give a cup of cold water? The Temple of your afflicted brother’s body is more precious that this temple."

Have a meaningful Holy Week in the time of the pandemic.

Daniel Franklin Pilario, CM
St. Vincent School of Theology
Adamson University
danielfranklinpilario@yahoo.com
04.01.2021

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