UNDERSTANDING THE LITURGY by John J. O'Brien, C.P.

" ALL THAT IS ALIVE, PRAISE. PRAISE THE LORD, HALLELUJAH " (Psalm 1 50:6): symbolism and real bread

Mountains and hill tops, seas and rivers, milk and honey all mirror God as created elements connected with biblical story. On Mount Sinai God was revealed to Moses and the ten commandments were given. On the hill top of Calvary, Jesus died. God freed Israel by opening up the Red Sea waters and, after a long desert journey, by leading them eventually across the Jordan river into a land flowing with milk and honey. Creation is a mirror, an image, an ikon of God. We humans are made in the image and likeness of God. We are called to be responsible stewards with our earth because it is both precious and symbolic.

God continues to be involved by using created matter. When these created elements are matched with a bible story, they teach us powerfully. A rainbow signaled a covenant of peace as Noah loaded up the ark. Incense accompanied temple sacrifice. Jesus used soil and spit to heal. He went to the wedding at Cana and performed his first sign there - outstanding wine! He calmed the tempestuous sea. He fed the multitudes with bread and fish.

Involvement with created elements is at the heart of our sacraments and our liturgies. Water for bathing and blessing, perfumed oil, aromatic bread, robust wine, human hands joined or imposed, arms raising up sweet smelling incense, the holy kiss conveying life-giving spirit and peace. All say loudly and clearly: creation is symbolic; created elements convey the divine. We humans interact with created elements to experience the presence of a Triune God. The Triune God favors and graces us through a creation which expresses mystery.

In the past we Catholics were overly minimalistic in our use of material elements because we were overly legalistic and worried excessively about making our sacraments valid. A few drops replaced the water bath, a few dabs substituted for the ample pouring of oil over royal heads, Eucharistic wine was denied the laity, and small, white, thin hosts were put on communicants' tongues. We worried lest the host drop. We fretted lest the host touch our teeth or stick to the roof of our mouths. We knew it was Eucharist, but it did not appear to be bread.

Now we are encouraged to be generous with our symbols, to be lavish and expressive so that the elements of creation may express mystery. This does not mean being casual. The healthy and robust among us are still supposed to fast for an hour before communion and chewing gum is neither reverent nor good table manners. (And don't stick it under the pew either, thank you!)

In many places the ministry of bread baking has begun. The altar bread is being baked by parish members so that it more looks like bread, feels like bread, tastes like bread, and clearly is bread. Because it is bread, because it is more symbolically authentic, it is able to convey more fully the mystery of faith, i.e., the Lord's Supper and his dying and rising. Here at St. Malachy baking ministers will provide bread for Saturday evening and Sunday morning liturgies once a month. This is a change some will need to get used to. Its intention is to quicken faith and to help us experience the paschal mystery. "When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus, until you come in glory."