Food for the Journey: The Eucharist - Wisdom of Catechists
by Diocese of Des Moines | June 1, 2022
The Old Testament introduces readers to a mystical divine figure known as Wisdom (Sophia in Greek). Sophia is remarkable. She was begotten by God, coming forth from the very being of God before creation (Prov 8:22; Sir24:3). Wisdom was with God during all of creation (Prov 8:27-30). She is the perfect image of God; the spotless mirror of God’s power (Wis 7:25-26). Sophia indwells human souls and thereby creates friends of God and prophets (Wis 7:27). She can do anything and understands everything (Wisdom 7:27; 8:28). God loves those who love her (Wis 7:28). She is the one who gives eternal life (Wis 8:17). Wisdom would come to dwell on the Earth (Sir 24:8-12). She is the one who feeds all those who come to her (Prov 9:1-5). In fact, her very being is food and drink for believers (Sir 24:19-21).
Does Wisdom sound like someone we would like to know? The author of the Gospel of John presents Jesus as Old Testament Wisdom incarnate. The identification of Jesus with Wisdom is an excellent example of St. Augustine’s understanding that the New Testament lies hidden in the Old Testament and that the Old Testament is unveiled in the New. According to the Gospel of John, Jesus was in the beginning with God (John 1:1) and was his only begotten Son (John 1:14). When Wisdom was made flesh as Jesus at the incarnation, he made our invisible God known (John 1:18). The Son is the one who gives those who believe in him eternal life (John 3:16). As Sirach reveals about Wisdom, the evangelist reveals that Jesus feeds his people with his very own body and blood and that this food is what leads to eternal life (John 4:14; 6:32-61). These early Biblical writings first express our understanding that the Eucharist is life itself – the source and summit of our Catholic faith and the wisdom of catechists and of all believers.
Some years ago a young man, a Baptist, met a lovely Catholic young lady. As a Baptist, the young man had a great love for Jesus and for the Bible. At an early age, he heard the salvation story and came to believe in Jesus as his savior. Yet, something was missing for him. Despite what he confessed to believe; he could never gain the sense that Jesus was in his life – that he was a friend of God. The young lady had similar struggles. Though then a faithful Catholic, she had visited Protestant churches several times. She returned to the Catholic Church because, only there, could she receive the Eucharist, the Wisdom of God. The Real Presence of the Eucharist was missing in other churches. As their relationship progressed, the young man began to attend Catholic Church with his beloved. He experienced the Eucharist and began to understand that this is how Jesus, Wisdom incarnate, becomes present and indwells believers. Over time, he joined the Church through the RCIA program, and later became an RCIA team leader in his parish in Alaska. It was the Eucharist, the food of Wisdom that drew him to full communion. You might have guessed that the young man is me, and that the young lady is my wife, Lindy.
Over the years of facilitating RCIA programs I continue to observe that it is the Eucharist, the food of Wisdom, which draws people to the faith. That is why catechists are so keen to introduce seekers to the food of Wisdom.
Greg Samorajski is a recent graduate of the University of Dallas earning a master’s degree in theological studies. He is a new Iowa resident and now a regular at the Basilica of St John. His day job is as an executive for the State of Iowa.