During a recent April weekend our community held its election for prioress. This occurs every 4 years.
These elections are different from any you are likely familiar with. For a wonderfully helpful description, read Sr. Christa’s blog post on the election, “A Choice Made Together.” For me this current election was an exercise in living Eucharist. Indeed, it was one of 3 profound Eucharist experiences in my life. Each of the 3 differed in character, but over the years they built on each other.
The first experience was more than 70 years ago. I was a young girl in my parish church attending the ritual for closing of 40 Hours. As I watched the monstrance being carried up and down the aisles, a deep insight washed over me: “Here right now is Jesus Christ” It touched me so deeply that even now I can visualize the scene and remember the feeling.
The next remarkable moment was many years later. I was a young Benedictine at mass in the chapel, standing with other sisters around the altar. (This was an era when priests could invite assembly members to come up to the altar instead of remaining in their pews.) The moment occurred as the priest was holding the host up for all to see and proclaiming: “This is the Lamb of God.” As he said that I suddenly realized that all those I was standing with were truly “the Lamb of God.” This was a deepening of my knowing what it means to be the body of Christ.
My experience during our recent election process was a third building block in my lived theology of Eucharist. Again, it was at one given moment in time. The four sisters who had agreed to be a candidate for prioress were sitting in front facing the rest of the community. They were opening themselves to anyone in the assembly who might have a question whose answer she thought would shed light on what gifts or challenges a candidate would bring to the office of prioress. I was suddenly flooded with gratitude for the immense gift that was before our eyes. No matter what the cost, these 4 women were ready to give themselves totally to service of the community and the Church. Their presence was God saying to us: “I am here. Trust in me. Through these women and the rest of the community I will continue to make my presence visible to you and the rest of the world.”
I’d been aware for a long time that I had a deep Eucharistic theology, knowing each of us is part of the body of Christ. I don’t think I knew, however, that it had been developing since childhood and was related to various experiences over my lifetime. In a way, the revelation had been a kind of personal archeology. helping me gain deeper insight into myself, my relationship with God and everyone else.
I’m guessing that all of us have pivot points, some special moments in our lives whose impact helps fashion the rest of our life. For me I have a new understanding of how God’s hand has been shaping my relationships over many decades. Because of them, for me the term Body of Christ is a daily reality, around each of us in flesh and blood. Are there any pivot points in your life where, with some introspection, you’ll find a hidden gift of God that sheds light on who you have become?
