Lecturer’s report November 10, 2022, by Greg Brown

Source and Summit

The Catholic Church calls the Eucharist the “source and summit of the Christian life.” I have been wrestling with what this means. I am borrowing from the 40 for 40 articles in our weekly church bulletin.

Since this is November, when we as a Church dedicate the whole month to honoring the saints, those who have gone before us, let’s reflect on the living Church, the saints, and the Eucharist. We are the body of Christ which consists of all believers from even before the apostles, to the present, and even the future. That of course includes our loved ones, close and distant. Quoting the article from this week, “The Eucharist puts us in communion with all believers, extended through space and time (including our beloved souls in Purgatory). Does this teaching provide some consolation and hope regarding friends and family members who have preceded us in death?”

Since this communion of believers is the body of Christ and the Eucharist is also the body of Christ, are we not then one and the same, just in different forms? I think this remains a heavy thought, but maybe the “source and summit” idea has become a little clearer.

What are your thoughts on the words “source and summit?”

Let’s conclude with our prayer for the canonization of Blessed Fr. Michael McGivney.