The Cup We Drink

When you grow up in an Italian family as I did, special meals always included wine. Wine meant celebration and gathering in friendship and intimacy. Since drinking wine was often associated with holydays such as Christmas and Easter, wine also symbolized a connection to God.

Numerous stories about vines and the wine made from them are in the Scriptures. The vineyard is a symbol of Israel, God’s Chosen People. In the New Testament, Jesus reveals himself as the true vine and his people as the branches, urging followers to remain in him and bear fruit.

One of the ways to remain in Jesus is to drink from the cup at Mass. At the Last Supper, Jesus took a cup, gave thanks, and offering it to the disciples, said, “Drink from it, all of you.” The offering of the Blood of Christ to communicants was continued for more than a millennium. But the Middle Ages witnessed a decline in the use of the cup. Controversies arose over whether the laity or only the priest should drink from the cup. In the sixteenth century, the Council of Trent affirmed that the cup was to be reserved for the clergy. However, the Second Vatican Council document the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 55, states that Communion under both kinds may be granted to the laity at the discretion of the bishop. Not long after the Council, the instruction Eucharisticum mysterium explained: Holy Communion, considered as a sign, has a more complete form when it is received under both kinds. For under this form the sign of the Eucharistic banquet appears more perfectly. Moreover, it shows more clearly how the new and eternal Covenant is ratified in the Blood of the Lord, as it also expresses the relation of the Eucharistic banquet to the eschatological banquet in the Kingdom of the Father. (cf. Matt. 26:27–29). (32)

Some people choose only to receive the Body of Christ, and in the reception of one species, Christ is received “whole and entire” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 281). Drinking from the cup, though, offers “a more complete form” when received under both kinds. May our reception of the Eucharist propel us to bring Christ to others.

Five Minute Jesus

Using the Gospel for Prayer – Easter Sunday April 9, 2023

It’s simple. 1. Read the Gospel for the following Sunday slowly, reflecting on the story it tells. 2. Reflect on the questions assigned for each day. 3. Make some resolution about how what you read can be lived that day. 4. Then thank God for speaking to you through this reflection.

Gospel John 20:1-9

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So, she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So, Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

Monday April 3rd

Was there something in this reading that spoke to me? Comforted me? Challenged me? What was it? Why did it have this effect on me?

Tuesday April 4th

In John the resurrection appearance focuses not on “the women” as in other Gospels, but on Mary of Magdala – i.e. Mary Magdalene. There has been much speculation as to Jesus and Mary Magdalene over the years: we all know Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code. However, sticking to John’s account. What is Mary’s role here? Why is it important? What does it say about her relationship with Jesus? What does it say about ours?

Wednesday April 5th

Mary has been called “the Apostle to the Apostles”. That statement is rooted in part in this Gospel passage. She was the one who first proclaimed the empty tomb – then of course the men take over! Later she will be the first to see the risen Jesus. In this we see two sides of the earliest Easter message: one the one hand, the empty tomb and on the other a vision of the Risen Jesus. This distinction is important. The empty tomb is a proclamation of faith in the resurrection though we did not see it. The other is a demonstration of proof: I believe because I see. Which is more important for me? What do I need to really believe in the resurrection?

Thursday April 6th

Today’s gospel is portrayed like a race; which disciple gets to the tomb first? In that we see reflected the contest between the first Christian communities; those who saw Peter as their leader, and those who gathered around “the beloved disciple”, believed to be the author of the Gospel of John. And yet, the Gospel puts this race in the context of Mary’s who went to the tomb while the male disciples did not even bother. What does this suggest to you about the author’s understanding of the roles of women and men in earliest Christian community? Does it suggest anything to us about the roles of women in ours?

Friday April 7th

According to the story it was the “other” disciple who entered the tomb first saw that the body was not there and believed. For this disciple the empty tomb was proof enough that something had happened. Something they clearly did not expect; even though the Gospels report that Jesus repeatedly predicted his resurrection. What does this say about the disciples and their faith? What does it say about ours?

Saturday April 8th

“They did not understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead”. Despite Jesus’ resurrection, something else was necessary: that they understand how the Hebrew Scriptures had predicted this all along. This makes yesterday’s question, and the race the day before between Peter and John even more pointed. The male disciples did not even bother to go to the tomb until Mary proclaimed the body was gone. Then they saw that the body was missing and “believed” – though they did not expect this, despite Jesus’ preaching. Now it says they did not understand. What does this say about coming to faith in the resurrection of Jesus? It says that we need testimony, personal witness and an understanding of Scripture which makes sense of the empty tomb. On this Holy Saturday, hours before we proclaim Jesus IS risen, What would I need to make that proclamation a personal expression of faith for me?