Corpus Christi

(written last night--5/30/2013) 

“Oh, how He loves us.” (David Crowder) This afternoon we paraded through the streets, singing songs and shouting “!Viva Cristo!”. We arrived at the fútbol stadium in time to find good seats, but, as we waited, thousands of people from parishes all over Montero and the surrounding towns continued to flood in, until there was only standing room left.  The atmosphere was festive: people were dressed in their most stylish outfits, cameras flashed constantly, groups were waving banners and balloons. Hundreds of teens and kids preparing to receive their sacraments donned costumes and danced on the field below. So, what was the big occasion? Well, today is the feast of Corpus Cristi (Body of Christ). So, the reason for so much pomp and circumstance, the focus of the all this festivity, was the Santa Misa, and more specifically, the celebration of the most Holy Eucharist.  After Mass finished, I joined the members of the Jufra and Pre-Jufra (my youth and young adult group) and a throng of strangers, all wearing ponchillos (the vests given out to the “security” team at the event). We linked hands and formed a human barrier around the musicians and the truck that would carry the Eucharist—lavishly decorated with swaths of gold and white cloth and flowers. The priests and religious arranged the monstrance in the back of the truck, where a priest remained, supporting it, as we made our way slowly through the streets.  Our human chain struggled to keep together as the crowd shifted, following the Sacrament, tugging on each other hands and straining to keep our grip on each other. I was fortunate: I just happened to get placed right behind the Eucharist for the entire journey.  Although I have to say I was rather distracted by the kind of terrible band accompanying the procession right behind the truck, I spent a good part of the journey meditating on the Host.  As I prayed, I kept thinking, “This is how we should treat the Eucharist every time we receive it.” This is the summit of our faith, the reason we hope, the miracle that occurs every day for each one of us to witness and receive. The Body of Christ is typically used to refer to two ideas: 1) the Holy Eucharist instituted by Jesus or 2) the people who make up His Church.  Tonight, I had the opportunity to be joined closely with one, adoring and praising the other-- truly a cause for celebration.  So, perhaps the rest of the crowd didn’t necessarily appreciate this,  perhaps many of the people just came because it’s an obligation or an interesting social gathering, perhaps many didn’t give the Sacrament the proper reverence it deserves, perhaps they didn’t really understand what we were doing.  Nevertheless, I think there was something valuable and beautiful in what we experienced together. I’m so very happy to be in a place that actively celebrates Catholicism, in the same way that people celebrate birthdays or the fourth of July. Now, I’m going to go sleep.  When I wake in the morning, on my birthday, I will pray the rosary, I will prepare to teach my classes and festejar a little bit with my kids, I will brush the teeth of lots of adorable Guarderia (daycare) kids, and I will hopefully get to practice one of my favorite Christian songs on guitar with one of my favorite sisters. And, I will have the chance to see Him again in the Mass, which is the moment I think I’m most looking forward to tomorrow.  “Oh death, where is your sting? Oh Hell, where is your victory? Oh Church, come stand in the light. The glory of God has defeated the night...Our Lord is not dead--He’s alive, He’s alive!...Christ is risen from the dead.” (Matt Maher)