Before celebrating the Eucharist together the first Christians gathered for a meal called an agape meal, agape meaning a deep love in Greek. Paul in today’s First Reading is expressing his concern that the Christians at Corinth are treating the agape meal more like a cafeteria than as a family coming together to eat. It’s not even a potluck; everyone brings their own food and eats it, and some overindulge while others go hungry. What does that say for them when they come together to participate in the Eucharist, the sacrament of love?
Today’s parishes have parishioners that come from wide areas and walks of life, enjoying plenty or facing hardship. Many parishes describe themselves as Catholic “communities.” Paul encourages us today to examine whether the good will we show to our brothers and sisters in the faith goes beyond the parish parking lot after Sunday Mass. How do we see them in our neighborhood, the supermarket, or a restaurant? Do we really know how they’re doing? The Eucharist solidifies and grounds our love for God and our love for others, but we can just go through the motions if we don’t truly try to put charity into practice.
We don’t gather for agape meals before Mass anymore, but we can show our love for Our Lord by showing our concern for our fellow parishioners. Let’s strive to be a family of faith not just Sunday, but every day.
Readings: 1 Corinthians 11:17–26, 33; Psalm 40:7–10, 17; Luke 7:1–10. See also 12th Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday.
