Psalm 62: “In you alone is my soul at rest. My help comes from you.”

There's a story about the man on the plane who was getting drunker and noisier all the time and becoming unmanageable. The flight attendant, trying to quiet him, told him, “Do you know that Billy Graham is right behind you?” The fellow turned around and said somewhat unsteadily to Graham: “Mr. Graham, I went to one of your rallies once and it changed my life.”  (One must wonder about the direction of the change!)

Those of us who are joined to Christ so frequently in communion must wonder sometimes about what effect it has on us. We should expect that over time a sincere participation in the Lord's Supper should cause some transformation, should be making us more like him whose body and blood we share. One element which contributes to the effectiveness of this sacrament is the personal prayer which, in addition to that of the service, surrounds it. The full effect of Christ living in us cannot be realized apart from our personal engagement by prayer, our own unique conversation with Christ.

Communion is not fast food or magic. Our faith and prayer should express our trust that Christ can transform us. We are fed with this bread and wine, the body and blood of the Lord, in order to live as he does. In John 6 we read: “Just as the Father has sent me and I have life because of the Father, so you who feed on me will have life because of me.” Genuine prayer and faith allow Christ to make us one with him, to transform us into the one body of Christ. Over time it should become easier for others to see Christ in and through us.

Psalm 27: “I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness / in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong; / be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!”

Reply to Fr. Don at: DTalafous@csbsju.edu

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