Meditation.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume VIII, Issue 11, 1 May 1918, Page 85

Meditation.

Sacrament (Continued). ■ '■ The Appointed Place is m the Celebration of the Holy Sacrament of. His Body and His Blood. To some minds it seems that the Gospel account of the Institution, and especially the Words of the Institution give small warrant for this belief. But these are not our only authority. The Gospels give a condensed and fragmentary but, sufficient account of the Institution of the Blessed Sacrament at the Last Supper — they have no word to say of the Apostles' interpretation of what occurred. The story of the Institution is a framework which demands to be clothed with a conception; the Institution is an impulse which demands fulfilment, it is a simple act which cries out to be given significance. It is impossible to suppose that men could have ' ' done this m remembrance" without asking its meaning. (Joshua 46 and allied passages). We cannot expect to find this inevitable interpretation m the Gospels unless the Gospels do more than recount simply the story of events, unless, m fact, the narrative is coloured with the developed conception of a later time. It is one of the points of peculiar value m the Gospels that they are free from this later colouring, that they preserve for us the primitive tradition. Any real Eueharistie doctrine was impossible until the Resurrection and Ascension were not only accomplished but understood. In the simple Gospel narrative of events as they occurred such interpretation has no place. Interpretation is the product of reflection and experience. The inevitable interpretation is, however, visible as early as I. Cor., and St. Paul's language (I. Cor., 10/16, 11/27) is satisfied only by such interpretation as is familiar to us m the doctrine of the Real Presence; and, moreover, his interpretation is deliberately and directly based on the words of the Institution as they are given m the Gospels. Beyond the time of the New Testament we have evidence of the Church's belief m her Liturgies and Saeramentaries. The inspiration of. the Holy Spirit has not ceased; it is a doubting of Him to doubt the reality of His guidance m shaping the Church's belief concerning that part of her activity which is the highest corporate expression of her worship; Surely, if we can look : with confidence for His guidance ,any where we can rely upon it m the Act' m which man is at his best, at his nearest to God, his ears most open to God's voice, his heart most surely cleansed from sin. When, therefore, we find a definite conceptibn of the Real Presence rapidly f bribed and

everywhere accepted by the Catholic Church, we thankfully acknowledge the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is not till later ages when misbelief and abuses had thwarted the Holy Spirit's work that this central mystery became a battleground, and the Sanctuary was prof aried by man's worst passions. But before these distressful days, before it became a matter of controversy, there was established that conception of the Real Presence which is reflected m our CateChism, m our Liturgy and m our hymns. For generation upon generation of devout Christians the consecration of ' the Blessed Sacrament has, meant a coming of Christ to them, as .real .and actual as His coming to His .disciples m the Upper Room on the .evening of the first Easter Day. Our eyes cannot see Him but our spirits hear His benediction, "Peace be unto you." We know that He is with us and that He comes to us and takes His abode with us according to His promise. It is for us the appointed try sting-place.