I recently came across this stunning image and thought it worth sharing with you during this time of Eucharistic renewal in our country, for I think it tells us much of the attitude and disposition we should have when approaching our Lord Jesus made present to us in the appearance of bread and wine. The Virgin Adoring the Host is the work of the French artist Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, and dates from 1852. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art website:

Ingres made this small, jewellike devotional painting as a gift for his friend Louise Marcotte; she introduced the artist to Delphine Ramel, whom he married in 1852. The Virgin appears behind an altar table, flanked by two saints in adoration of the Eucharist. The composition pays homage to the long tradition of intimate paintings made for religious devotion, particularly the art of Raphael from the early 1500s.

With technical particulars out of the way (oh, its oil on canvas), what does this painting tell us of the attitude and disposition we should have in approaching Jesus in the Eucharist?

• It seems to me that whenever the Blessed Virgin Mary is depicted in art and shown in adoration, the subject of that adoration is invariable her Son, Jesus. Like Mary, our devotion to Jesus must be wholehearted, as is beautifully illustrated for us in this painting with Mary’s rapt attention fixed firmly on the Host. There’s a gracefulness to Mary’s attention too; it’s not dogged or fraught with distraction. Here we see Mary as our model in adoring Jesus; she is our reference for aligning our own attitude and disposition with hers as we together approach her Son and our Savior.

• And together with Mary we do approach Jesus, for there are two other figures in this painting, flanking Mary. These two figures appear to be French royal saints; I haven’t found out who specifically they are though. Regardless, we can see in them you and me, the baptized who have been granted the dignity of being made sons and daughters of God and thus heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven. Through a spiritual life fueled by Jesus Himself in the Eucharist, we will one day inherit the Kingdom.

• A final thought on our royal dignity and Jesus in the Eucharist: to reign is to serve. Here we see Jesus Himself before us, in the foreground of the painting; vulnerable; on offer. Having received Him worthily, we too must carry Jesus into the world and share Him with others. We too must make ourselves vulnerable so that others can encounter Jesus through us. So there is necessarily an outward dimension to the Eucharist that is the counterpoint of Its inward dimension. Adore the Lord in the Eucharist, yes; commune with Him in the most intimate way possible this side of Heaven, yes; but then carry forth into your sphere of influence the benefits of this encounter. Serve as Jesus serves you.

David J. Conrad

In today's Gospel from John (Cycle B), Jesus reminds us that the wheat grain must die to produce fruit.  Jesus, himself, is this grain of wheat that falls to the ground. He surrenders to death, to bring us new life. His surrender produces fruit: salvation for us! We receive new life! And when in our own lives we imitate this grain of wheat, God is also glorified. This is a parable for our lives.  When we live lives of self-denial, detachment from “other gods” and their distractions, new life emerges, and God is glorified. We give up ourselves in service, one small act, one moment at a time. Not many are called to greatness and great deeds, but all are called to service—and through that service we will find ourselves honored with eternal life by God’s grace.

It is clear that we are called to serve! The new covenant is written within the people of God; a promise that we will be the people of God, the promise of eternal salvation through following Jesus’ example of The Suffering Servant. We know that life brings suffering.  There's no need to create it by setting up artificial sacrifices (as was the practice in the pre-Vatican II days). We only need to shoulder the suffering that comes to us in our lives naturally. Jesus demonstrates obedience by what he sacrificed and suffered, not from something He created in order to suffer, but He suffered by following His Father’s will. Suffering will come to us also, of course, if we maintain our Christian integrity in the face of the secular world around us.

So: set out to serve others, and the suffering will come. Family will criticize the choice of service over a career ladder. Friends will walk away from our championing of unpopular issues: a preferential option for the poor, peace in the face of war, opposition to capital punishment and choice, forgiveness of our enemies, criticism of the “popular” perspective. In time, too, the suffering from the knowledge of impending death will come upon those we love, and upon us.

By our Baptism we are called to imitate this grain, and through service to die to self and produce fruit for the Kingdom. “We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.” This is the covenant: in our actions of love and service, God is glorified and we are saved.

Keep singing!

Elizabeth Dyc