Guardian Angels Catholic Community

How Will You Rise Up?

In my mind, the most profound hope of all coming out of the killing of George Floyd is the rising up – people all over the world are rising up. Saying, “Enough is enough!” Saying, “We must be better than this.” Saying, “As long as even one of us is oppressed, no one is free.” Seattle. London. Paris. New York City. Berlin. And on and on.

This past weekend, our church celebrated the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. I was thinking about rising up and what it means. The next morning, I woke up to the following posting from the Ignatian Solidarity Network. (I believe that the Spirit works that way sometimes.) There, I heard a young voice, Maddie LaForge, speaking in a stunning way of the meaning of the Eucharist. Asking how we will rise up. With her permission, here are her words:

We, though many, are one body
Broken, bloodied.
For we all partake in the one loaf
Sometimes kindly and generously
Other times blindly or selfishly
We all partake in this one, broken Body of Christ

On the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of
Christ, the readings help us remember our
collective, sacred story.

We remember that we are a holy people
Called out of slavery
Led into the desert
Promised liberation

We remember that we are a covenant people
Nourished by bread
Sustained by Christ
Promised salvation

When we eat this bread and drink this blood,
We remember

The Body of Christ
Bones broken; skin bloodied
Tortured, killed
Hanging on a tree

When we take and eat,
We partake

In the Sacred Mystery
And the cruel injustice
And the loved poured out

We, though many
Outraged and angered
Hateful and hurtful
Are one body
Broken
Blessed
and bound by love.

At times it has been a harsh and dreadful
thing; our very faith in love has been tried
through fire.
Yet, we rise up.

When we come to the table,
We participate
in Christ’s fellowship.
We renew our promise
to God and one another.

Eucharistic solidarity is not a vague feeling of
compassion or shallow distress. It is an
attitude and a praxis, a firm and persevering
commitment to the common good.

We are all really responsible for all, that is to
say my liberation is tied up with yours.

Salvation through Christ calls us and leads us
to participation,
To a nourishing and sustaining presence,
To thick solidarity.

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

How will you rise up and participate?

I know that Maddie’s question must continue to be my own: How will I rise up and participate?

How will you rise up and participate?

Signs of Hope-June 16, 2020

How Will You Rise Up?