Fr. Michael Joncas on the Eucharist

Fr. Michael Joncas opened the series "What Do Catholics Think About..." with a presentation titled "The Eucharist: Are You What You Eat?" Designed especially for students, each talk presents scholarly information in a way that can be understood without a lot of theological training. (Photos from the evening in the 1-minute slide show on the right - click on the arrow button.)

In tonight's presentation on the Eucharist, Fr. Joncas described the meal customs of the ancient Jews - the prayers and blessings that permeated the meal, and the many courses (including the time of drinking wine and enjoying conversation). The meal was served on small portable tables; the diners reclined in an eating area, and the tables of food were carried in and removed.

Father Michael Joncas
Originally uploaded by Edith OSB

With this understanding of Jewish meal customs and prayers, Fr. Joncas explored the accounts of the Last Supper found in Paul's letters and in the Gospels - understanding the actions described in light of the practices of the time and tying them to the method of making a Covenant and the meaning of that covenant.

Closing with the question - "Are you what you eat?" - Fr. Joncas contrasted one meaning of the phrase "you are what you eat" - that which emphasizes how food affects our body - with a Catholic understanding. We become what we eat not because it turns into us but - in the Eucharist - we become what we have eaten as we are made into the Body of Christ.

This is the third time I've seen Fr. Joncas speak. As always, he was animated, articulate, funny, interesting - and well worth hearing.