Sunday 3 (Easter – A)
John Paul II: a Living Monstrance
There is a phrase in one of the most important documents of the Second Vatican Council which reads: “the Church,
in Christ, is … a sign and instrument … of communion with God and of the unity of the entire human race”
(Lumen Gentium, par.1).
I recalled that phrase early yesterday morning as I watched the funeral Mass of our beloved Holy Father, Pope John
Paul II. Since that phrase is most certainly true, and since the Church is built on Peter, then it only makes sense that the
Pope is the visible foundation of our unity with God and of the destiny of mankind to be united in true justice and true peace.
Some two hundred heads of state and countless millions of human beings throughout the earth were at one yesterday,
albeit briefly. Perhaps one could even say that, for the first time in human history, so many from such different cultures,
faiths, perspectives and backgrounds, were consciously made one by one man.
More powerful still is the truth that the occasion of this unlikely oneness was the Eucharist being offered for that
man. Although not in intention, yet in fact, it was the Eucharist, the source and summit of the Church’s life, which,
yesterday morning, like a fleeting ray of sunlight, let unity shine upon an otherwise dark and cloudy earth.
Holy Communion –for there is no other- is the core of the Church’s
life, and therefore it is the core of the unity of humanity of which the Church is sign and instrument. And communion is all
this for one very simple reason: communion is the core of the life of the Blessed Trinity, which is precisely three Persons
in One.
The mission of the Pope is to unite all believers in the Eucharist, the sacramental communion of and with God. From
this it follows that the mission of the Pope is to unite the world in the Eucharist. But the world will believe in Christ,
as the Gospel tells us, only when Christians are at one.
As Christ died so that all mankind might be made one, so the Vicar of Christ lives, loves, labors and dies to secure
that unity. This “Year of the Eucharist” was called by “the man of the Eucharist”, Pope John Paul
II. And through him, the Eucharist was yesterday at the heart of the attention of humanity.
Arguably, yesterday’s unwitting and astounding show of unity, is one of the most concrete fruits of the labors
of John Paul II. As his own death was the culmination of his life, so yesterday’s assembly focused in one point of time
and space the goal of his selfless service: the oneness of humanity.
Of course, the oneness with the Pope of each one present was different in measure and motivation. Of course, this oneness
with him did not mean, unfortunately, oneness with each other. Of course, John Paul himself would be the last to believe that
mere physical presence overcomes profound spiritual absence and aversion.
Yet, the road to unity must begin somewhere, albeit with mere physical proximity. The road to unity requires a focal
point above suspicion, free of ulterior motives and with no preferences for one over another. The road to unity requires a
moral voice willing to speak words of exhortation to true justice and true peace.
The voice of John Paul II sought to awaken believers and humanity from the torpor of self-concern. The cynical mutterings
of Satan tempt mankind to find false justice and peace in self-exaltation, for the Devil hates unity and desires the conscience
of humanity to sleep deeply in a false understanding of power and freedom.
Even from the tomb, John Paul’s voice would perhaps have been crying out yesterday: “Leaders of mankind,
can you not see that unity is possible? Look, here you are, gathered around me because of the One whose truth I taught! Awake,
arise from the slumbers of your conflicts; let your swords be beaten into ploughshares; let you ideologies be converted into
a sincere search for the rich and complementary perceptions of the one Truth!”
Humanity stumbles downcast and doubtful along its road like the disciples going to Emmaus. Jesus walks with us, but
we do not recognize him. Evidence of who he is and of what he wants surrounds us, but our hearts are foolish and slow to believe.
Even although the hearts of those who do listen to him do indeed burn, yet their eyes do not quite fully see him.
Humanity needs people who recognize the presence of the One who has conquered death. Of themselves, the words of Jesus
are not enough. That is, humanity also needs those who break the bread of the Eucharist: humanity is hungry for the Eucharist.
That is why the Church is the sign and instrument of communion with God and of the unity of the human race. The Eucharist,
Holy Communion, is the heart of the world, the heart of humanity.
Yesterday, without knowing it, millions of people mourned or respectfully remembered one whose life was a demonstration
of the breaking of the bread. John Paul II was like a living monstrance, exposing the Eucharist to mankind; he was like the
fingers of Christ, breaking the Eucharist for the world.
His words called his listeners to transcend the crass assumptions of arrogant philosophies, rationalized egoism and
hardened ambition for dominance. They were powerful, challenging and even life-giving, not because of his cleverness, but
because their source was the Word. But not just the Word as contained in the Scriptures,
not even just the Word as the Word made flesh, but the Word made Eucharist, offered,
broken and given to us as the bread of life.
John Paul II recognized Jesus in the breaking of bread and, in every trip, in every visit, in every speech, he immediately
got up and went forth to witness to him in the midst of sinful, yet divinely beloved, humanity.
The cynical side of our realism may say that yesterday’s show of unity was but that passing ray of sunshine in
an otherwise bleak global horizon. The truth is, of course, that it is not the sunshine, but the clouds which will eventually
disperse when Christ reveals himself as judge of all humanity.
What we saw yesterday was not an unattainable ideal, but an anticipation of what the Church and the world shall be
at the end of time. By the power of the breaking of bread, John Paul II has given us a glimpse of heaven. If we wish to honor
his memory, it is our mission, through the Eucharist, to focus the hearts and minds of all men and women of goodwill on that
glimpse.
In this way, we will transform the glimpse itself into the everlasting vision of the Son of God. Thus we will fulfill
the teaching of the Prophets, of the Scriptures and of Vatican II: the Church is the sign and instrument of communion with
God and of the unity of the human race.
May the one we desire to name “Saint John Paul the Great” intercede on our behalf, that we, like him, may
never, never be afraid!
Msgr. Peter Magee
April 9th-10th, 2005:
St. Andrew Apostle, Silver Spring: Saturday Vigil, 5.00 pm
St. Matthew’s Cathedral, DC: Sunday, 10.00 am
