Thursday, May 12, 2011

Thursday of the Third Week of Easter

(Acts 8:26-40; John 6:44-51)

Food writer Michael Pollan criticizes the agricultural-industrial complex for polluting the American diet with corn-based products. He readily rolls out statistics to show that corn has long outdistanced wheat as America’s dietary mainstay. Pollan’s analysis raises the question whether Jesus, if he were to preach today, would say, “I am the bread of life.”

Do not doubt that he would. Whatever the universality of corn, well-made bread is still nutritious and delectable. Jesus further challenges contemporary assumptions like “the more, the better” and “what is convenient is also preferable.” He makes himself bread to be eaten in the Eucharist, but this food differs from what we put on the dinner table both in kind and quality. The Eucharist does not nourish us because it is bread for the body but because it is life for the soul. Its primarily spiritual substance lifts our minds and hearts to the divine love which they impart. Similarly, the word of God -- the Scriptures --provides rich spiritual nourishment.

Because they become the most life-giving of all food, quality bread and wine should be obtained for the Eucharist. As important, the Scriptures used in liturgies should be read from an attractive volume. For a while parishes used to make their own bread for the altar, but that practice seems to have proven impractical in the long run. Nevertheless, hosts of an appreciable size with the appearance, texture of well-made bread should be purchased whenever possible for their sign value. Likewise, a hearty, mellow wine should be obtained for consecration. Finally, reading the Scriptures from an I-Phone or missalette, although they still give life, does not indicate their preeminence in the order of knowledge and wisdom.

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