Joe Perez is a writer striving to take Integral approaches to issues in ordinary life, culture, politics, sexuality, and spirituality. A graduate of Harvard University and The Divinity School at the University of Chicago, his books are 
(Integral Books, 2007) and 
(Lulu, 2006). 
The Eucharist is different to different people
July 5th, 2008 by Joe PerezThe Eucharist is a bread wafer, and–I believe–a real symbol of the presence of Christ, the ever-present Alpha and Omega. But believers don’t look at the world the same way: there are fundamental differences in levels of consciousness. So of course the Eucharist doesn’t look the same to every person.
A true story today as shared on Monastic Mumblings:
Sphere: Related ContentIn my understanding, the Eucharist is real, Christ is Present, and He infuses our lives with His Presence during the Sacrament. It is the most profoundly holy time in my week, when I am touched by the Sacred.
I believe that Christ is Present in the Sacrament, I believe that we are invited by Christ Himself to touch and be touched by the Holy. We take Christ Himself into our bodies, and our lives, leaving and being sent into the world, carrying Christ within us.
That being said, this week we had a little ‘event’ during the Eucharist. In my tradition, there is a point during the Eucharistic prayer (called the Epiclesis), during which the Celebrant invokes the Holy Spirit to bless the bread and wine so that it may be to us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then the Priest Boys and girls for Jesus elevates the Host, showing Christ to the faithful for veneration. At that most sacred, profound moment a little girl of almost two years old looked up and with her innocent, shrill voice yelled “cookie”!!
Tags: children, Christianity, Eucharist