YOU ARE IN DANGER!

One of the adjectives used o describe the memory of Jesus is “dangerous”. Jesus inspires His followers so intensely that they become willing to offer their lives for Jesus at any cost. Remembering Jesus drives them to radically commit themselves to Jesus and strengthens them to endure any trial and persecution, death not excluded. Thus, while Jesus leaves His disciples with peace. He does not leave them in peace.

This is what Jesus means when He says that He did not come into the world to bring peace but rather division. The memory of Jesus transforms those who are totally open to His grace and makes them more and more like Himself. Because the world hates Jesus, it also hates those who follow Him. Because the world persecuted Jesus, it also persecutes those who are configured to Him. The more a person is like Jesus the more the world does not like that person. If the world put the Master to death, the disciple cannot be safe.

Through every generation, the world does not run out of people who keep the memory of Jesus very much alive. Not seldom does keeping the memory of Jesus alive requires this disciples own life. Not a few of His followers are persecuted and ostracized even by their families, relatives and friends. The world slaughter them, but like mushrooms they grow in numbers everywhere. Followers of Jesus are not safe from the deadly blows of the world, but neither does death deter them from life.

The Eucharist we celebrate is a remembering of Jesus. It is the memory of Jesus. It is Jesus Himself made present again. Because the memory of Jesus is dangerous, the Eucharist is dangerous, too. If you think that the Eucharist is not dangerous, you are missing the point that the Eucharist challenges and transforms us more unto the image and likeness of Jesus. If you think that the Eucharist is simply a nostalgic remembering of Jesus over a meal, completely forgetting It’s sacrificial overtones, you are wrong. You must have come to a wrong gathering. You must have missed the Eucharist Itself.

The Eucharist – a dangerous remembering. Jesus – a dangerous memory.

Are you a disciple of Jesus? Take care, you may be in danger!