"JESUS broke the bread which he gave to his disciples, and they did the same afterwards in observing his sacrament. In fact the earliest name for it was 'the bread-breaking'. He broke it himself, in token that his enemies would break his body; he broke it himself, because his sacrifice was voluntary, he consented that they should do what they did. In the prayers after the consecration I must also break the bread; I must break it over the name of Jesus when I pray for deliverance from all evils through his death. Must I break the body, must I perform in solemn symbol the work of Christ's executioners? I must, for I must accept, I must identify myself with his willingness to die for my salvation. There are no limits to the self-bestowing love of God; no truth is more common on our lips than this, and none more distant from our hearts." (Farrer, Crown of the Year)
"Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me," says Christ, "cannot be my disciple." We share in that cross, it lives in us when we receive the Sacrament of the Altar. Do we accept or reject this gift?
Serious question with serious consequences.
Your call,
LSP
