5/3/11 DISAPPOINTED WITH EUCHARISTIC MINISTER @ HOLY FAMILY TODAY
...usually with the priest or a good eucharistic minister (these are lay people trained to assist in giving the body & blood in eucharist/communion services) u get a good strong affirming look in their eyes ..as I approached , however, I could see this fellow was a little "imperious" (supercillious, arrogant)..maybe filipino (filipinos have a strong, catholic tradition that they've brought with them from the Philippines and sometimes they can be condescending towards Americans, ...and they definitely look at me as an "American" often with presumptions of ignorance (they might be surprised to know I've been to the philippines twice, did mission work there for a summer, and also have completed an NT AUDIO bible in tagalog). There are times when it may be better NOT to go thru the eucharistic procession, even if it occassionally means foregoing the body of Christ. If you see a priest or eucharistic minister as "in the flesh" (ie not in a state of grace) u may be better off going to a different line or simply not going. Also, if u, yourself, are not in a state of grace, u r not supposed to participate in eucharist.
On this particular day I did not feel that the eucharistic minister was in a state of grace. Also, the previous day, same church, there was an Anglo fellow sort of "supervising" the eucharist proceedings...I.e. staring at people in a semi-official manner as if it was his designated task to make sure everything went smoothly. This is fine, I suppose, if it is his job, but he should do it in a less-intrusive manner, not like a security guard. If its not his job, and he's just being a busybody, its really annoying & unneccessary. Altho I've been at masses where people are not very charitable, I've never been at a mass where security is necessary. I hope Holy Family church isn't taking a turn for the worse. THE homilies are usually some of the best, but if people are not in a state of grace, or trying to get to that point, its all just "catholic calisthenics."
I also experienced a really
non-gracious eucharistic minister @ St. Basil (Wilshire) on Sunday, by the way (the gal is ALWAYS there doing the scripture reading at daily mass, 625a, and she was doing the evening mass on Divine Mercy Sunday, but she gave me a waistline look "to kill" as I passed her by. It felt like she was a man-hater at that particular moment, or maybe just a me-hater, & I don't know why. I regularly attend mass at this church, but can't always stay for the entire service (especially most of last year when I was teaching & had to be on the road by 640 am, so I would just stick my head in for a few moments). Paradoxically, it leaves me being the one praying for them. They probably don't realize I am also a Christian pastor (BA/BA/M.Div). A eucharistic minister is very important, but if they don't take their job seriously & do it with utmost sincerity they are not only negatively impacting, or at least not positivelt impacting, those participating in eucharist, but may be condemning themself.
I'm sure the human tendency after a while, for the eucharistic minister, is to play "favorites." They see somebody they recognize, they smile. They see a new face, or somebody in a "category' they don't like (I.e. "white man") and they do the poker face.
At Holy Family, the guy wouldn't even look me in the eye as he gave me the body of Christ. It was as if he didn't dare, or was ashamed of himself. They must be in full state of grace to be effective eucharist ministers. It is NOT easy to put one's finger on what's going on at St. Basil, nor Holy Family, but it has to do with grace. Set aside the category-placing and come to Christ. If you are being a eucharistic minister for the wrong reason, you are eating & drinking to your own judgment. At church, I should be treated with more care & concern, especially from the eucharistic minister, than the average Del Taco, 7-11, McDonalds, etc. cashier. If that's all you are, go get a job at Del Taco.
