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This weekend: four minutes about the real presence of Jesus - not in communion. A funny thing happened to Catholics on their way to Mass. Once upon a time, Catholic Christians at Eucharist, as the New Testament tells us, recognized that Christ was among them as they gathered in His name; they passed on precious words of Scripture knowing it was a living contact with the person of Jesus; they recognized Him in the breaking of the bread and celebrated that they were one body with Him, just as they shared one bread and one cup. Somewhere in the Dark and Middle Ages, their attention became almost completely riveted on the host, and whether out of awe, or out of superstition, or no longer understanding the Latin, or a sense of unworthiness they seldom received communion, but came mainly to watch the host and the chalice held up high. Then in the 1500s, when the Catholics understood (or in some cases, misunderstood) Protestant reformers to say that Jesus was not really present in communion, but it was just a symbolic reminder of Him; that really got their dander up. As Catholics went to Mass, they insisted and focused on one thing, to the exclusion of everything else - namely, that Mass produces the real presence of Christ in the consecrated bread and wine, and nothing else compares to that, or even much matters. A funny thing had happened to Catholics on the way to Mass; they forgot their own faith in the presence of Christ in the entire celebration of the Eucharist, and in many ways beyond the Mass. This Eucharistic amnesia led to some strange behavior and consequences. Even though it is Catholic faith that Christ is present as we assemble in His name, and Christ is present even as we hear the word of Scripture proclaimed - they were told it's really OK if you miss the entire first part of the Mass - the gathering, and the Liturgy of the Word. Just be sure to get in before the really important things begin to happen (you know, like the collection). Hopefully, we've moved well beyond that as the Second Vatican Council (way back in the 1960s) spoke of Christ's presence not only in consecrated bread and wine but also in the proclaimed word and the assembly itself. As one of our official Eucharistic prayers reads (the one I used at this Mass): "Blessed too is Your son, Jesus Christ, who is present among us and whose love gathers us together. As once He did for His disciples, Christ now open the Scriptures for us and breaks the bread."

Pope Paul VI in his encyclical letter on the Eucharist reaffirmed belief in the presence of Christ in communion, but he also spoke of the very real presence of Christ in acts of concern and compassion, in the preaching of God's word, in the faithful shepherding of God's people, and in the celebration of all the sacraments. Christ comes to us in many ways, but the Mass (not one magic moment but the Mass from beginning to end), the Mass is the principal and most important way he touches us, nourishes us, calls and causes us to be His body and sends us out to make a difference in our world.