I've been pondering John 6 this summer. I've been examining my beliefs, helping my 8-yr-old explore his, and in the process, been wondering about those of others. As a cradle Catholic, there has never not been Eucharist in my life--wondering about it while I watched my Mom receive, preparing for my first time, feeling many times not worthy of it, feeling many times in awe of it, feeling many times as though I don't feel enough about it, thinking it truly bizarre, being offended when others think it bizarre, and my newest (and most blessed experience) to date--actually finding myself craving it. I have read about others having this "craving" experience, so the first few times it happened to me, I thought perhaps I was just "wanting to crave" it--so I could be one of those super-holy Catholics too. But one day late this winter, I found myself walking down the aisle and fighting back tears as I prepared to receive. So of course, I looked forward to going back to Mass as soon as I could--craving Communion, if you will, because I wanted to feel so moved again. No tears this second time, but I have found that these first tears have moved me into a different relationship with both receiving the Eucharist and with my Catholic journey overall--and I am much more aware, with an almost painful, yet peaceful mindfulness with which I accept the Eucharist.
All of this being said, I have also started to notice (perhaps I'm just a slow learner here) in various blogs I happen upon, or the blogs of friends or friends of their friends, much mention of their Christian beliefs. Not all, but many of them are non-denominational or non-mainline Protestant Christians who list among their core beliefs the Nicene Creed and/or the Apostles Creed. They also write much and deeply about social justice issues. Often there are lovely and profound musings about their sprititual journeys. Frequently these writers discuss the desire to experience Lent and Advent (although not often referred to as Advent) more fully and more presently. One of these bloggers--now a famous published author--even wrote a book centered around the idea of Eucharisto. So, this fairly pedestrian Catholic begins to wonder . . .why aren't all of these lovely people Catholic? It is all there--the Creeds, the social justice, the Church calendar--all except the Eucharist. I suppose this is where I'm afraid of offending, which is not at all my intent. Nor is my intent one of attempted conversion--rather I am asking this question in all sincerity. I will never forget reading an excerpt of one of Gary Will's books--Papa Sin, I think it was, and to bastardize his quote something horribly, he said that that the argument over women being ordained, or a person's use of a condom is NOT why he is Catholic--but rather it is the Creed and Eucharist. That's it. I remember wanting to jump up and down and shout, "hurrah!" I will admit, that my Catholic faith does involve a bit more than that--I love the Sacraments, the candles, the genuflecting, the holy water, and I love me some Saints, but in esssence, Wills, to me, is right. Give me the Creed and the Eucharist and I can hang my hat and take a pew. So, to get back around to the beginning, what keeps all of these people from the Eucharist? What don't I get about their beliefs? (I mean this earnestly). The cycle that keeps running in my head is that many of these people whose blogs I've been reading also profess that the Bible is the inerrant word of God, so, again, at the risk of offending, do they believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God--except for John 6? I would love to be snarky when I ask that, except that I don't feel moved to be snarky about the Eucharist, and because I really am curious, truly curious, about what to me feels like a disconnect. Can anyone address this?
Amen!!!
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