Easter Sunday 1978

Oh, it's not a typo. It really does say Easter Sunday 1978! I was fifteen years old, and I made my first communion on that day. There was no fanfare. No special announcements. I had been a "CCD" delinquent since elementary school because I was attending a music conservatory on Saturday mornings instead of attending religious education classes at the parish. I was so excited to receive Jesus for the very first time--bit nervous, too. At that first communion, the first of many, I felt a transformation to my being, and I had made the decision, as a high school student, that I would serve the Lord in the Eucharist. A month later, the pastor asked me to sing and play the organ at the Saturday evening anticipated Mass. And this was the beginning of a life­long service to God and to the People of God. Nearly forty-six later, I am still serving at Mass as a music minister!

During these years of Eucharistic Revival, the words: Behold, behold the holy Body of Christ, we do believe, O Lord, help our unbelief! Behold, behold the sacred Blood of Christi May we all become what we receive, alleluia! reaffirm my belief in the true presence of the resurrected Jesus in the Eucharist. It is bread that becomes the Body of Christ. It is wine that becomes the Blood of Christ. Not a symbol. Not a sign. I do believe Jesus when he says "This is my body ... this is my blood. I also believe that I, we, become what we consume at Mass, to be Christ to a world that is still in need of salvation. The Easter message has nothing to do with bunnies or chocolates or marshmallow yellow or blue peeps. It has everything to do with the life, death, and especially the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord, the Savior of the World, who gives his Body and Blood to feed us. Alleluia! Christ is risen!