The Mystical Body of Christ

This is an article I wrote for my Church's "newsletter" called the Messenger. It had to be really short, so I apologize for how abbreviated it is. I may, at some point, elaborate on one of more of the sections later.

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We are all fighting a battle. We are the church militant. We fight against the forces of evil daily. We are in a constant battle, and, on our own, it would be impossible. But we are no more alone than were the Israelites in Exodus 17.

Moses realized that while his arms were raised, the favor of the Lord shone upon the Israelites, and they could not be defeated. Likewise, we have the priests who offer – on our behalf and that of the whole world – the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. But, like Moses, our priests tire, as does the army. But like the Israelites, we should not despair, for we are not left alone. We have people to help hold up our priests’ arms so that we can better fight our fight, fueled by the Eucharist – those who consecrate themselves to prayer on our behalf both in this world and the next. We have people we may never know who strengthen the Body of Christ: The consecrated sisters and brothers who give their lives to prayer, the sick grandmother who cannot move but can still pray her rosary, the little child who knows not how to fight but knows how to sing songs of praise and prayer, and the holy Cloud of Witnesses that surrounds us and cheers us on.

We have a Mystical Body that is joined by the spirit of adoption that comes on us at Baptism and bound by the One Bread, the Most Holy Eucharist. This Body transcends time and space, and the prayers we pray now will echo throughout eternity, for our prayers are to God, Who is outside of time and space.

We taste a bit of this when we go to Christ the Head in the Eucharist. At the Mass, eternity and time kiss, for there is only one mass, not many. Each Eucharist is a re-presentation of the same sacrifice, many rays from the same sun. When I go to Mass or kneel before the Blessed Sacrament, I can gaze upon the same body and blood that Mary held, and I can adore the same blood that the Centurion watched drip down Christ’s side. Every time we go to Mass, every time we look at a consecrated host – regardless of where we are – we are joined with all who have gone before and all who will come after us.

But that is not all! I can actually adore the precious blood with Mary Magdalene, I can actually worship Christ with Mary, and I can actually be with my friends in far off states when I am sitting at the feet of Christ in the Adoration Chapel.

We have the unmistakable honor of being part of this Body. And we each must discern our role in it. Whether we are the soldiers on the front lines, the hands that mend the sores, or the hands that hold up the arms of the priests, we are all called by our Baptisms to take part in this Body.