On Easter Sunday morning, the priest spoke about the blood and body of Christ being real. I heard him and knew that for him it was a big deal and the difference between Catholic and Protestant religions. The Catholics believe the host and wine turns into literal blood and flesh. The Protestants believe the communion wafer and wine are symbolic.
The pageant of Easter includes the Last Supper where Christ takes the bread and shares it, saying, “This is my body, which will be given up for you.” He takes the wine and passing it to his thirteen disciples proclaims, “This is my blood, which will be shed for many.” As I participated in this ancient and holy celebration, I received an insight. It came out of my practice of cupping my plate and becoming conscious of the life forms before me that have given their lives so that I may live.
The key to the insight came because when I connect to the life forms before me, I also connect with the fact that I, too, am food. Suddenly I felt as if that was the message Christ was conveying. Yes, of course we are eating His flesh and drinking His blood. He was demonstrating that flesh and blood embodies spiritual energy which is food. All life is food and offered and received consciously we conquer death and rise again to become part of something greater.
A world without end.
And should the world itself forget your name
say this to the still earth: “I flow.
Say this to the quick stream: “I am.”
~ Rainer Maria Rilke, “Being.”
a version by Don Paterson,
from Die Sonnette an Orpheus.
Thanks James—just so.