The community of Lima traditionally celebrates the Eucharistic Supper with the objective of appreciating the dynamism of the Eucharist around the table. The Supper this year took place on the 16th of November from 7 to 10 pm in the Chapel of the Virgin of Fatima. The theme of this celebration was: The Table as the place of Fraternity, which was in harmony with the theme of the 53rd International Eucharistic Congress celebrated in Quito, Ecuador from 8 to 15 September this year, in which several delegations of the Eymardian Family participated.
This same event has been a great opportunity of reflexion and challenge about the significance of the Table from the spiritual and fraternal perspective, highlighting fraternity as “a Christian and eucharistic imperative” in the light of the pericope in the Gospel of Matthew: “You are all brothers” (Mt 23:89).
Contextualizing the spirituality of the Table
The contextualization of the Eucharistic Supper began by pointing out that the event is part of the Eucharistic tradition of the Eymardian family, whose source of mission is: the Eucharist. The guests were motivated by the spiritual meaning of the table, inspired by the Last Supper from a perspective of faith.
In this way, the congregation was encouraged to consider deeply the integral meaning of the table, which is the privileged place to strengthen bonds of brotherhood, a space to share life and nourish existence, and an environment to experience the love of God by living “fraternity”, that is, the God’s tenderness towards one’s brother, which must be given concrete expression in relationships of closeness and empathy with others.
The Table as a place of Fraternity
This second part began with a fervent prayer illuminated by the account of the Institution of the Eucharist in the Gospel of Luke on (Lk. 22, 19-20). The participants were challenged about the meaning of prayer as part of the Christian mission from a fraternal and spiritual perspective.
It was made clear that the reflexions and experiences at the meeting would be illuminated by the deep logic of Fraternity as a Eucharistic legacy permeating the realities of the world in harmony with moments of cultural enjoyment; all in a reflective, contemplative and interactive dynamic with the people gathered around each table.
In this logic, we reflected on how the human being is an active and acting subject in the world, which is the blend of structures between people, families and diversity of cultures, wherein multiple realities are recognised as showing wounds requiring to be healed are reflected. In this sense, the Eucharistic Supper becomes an opportunity to discuss these wounds around the table through dialogue, listening and contemplation of our life’s reality.
The Table as an environment of Humanization
The table is an environment of inclusion that fosters a culture of encounter, in which dialogue is primordial as the focal point of human upbuilding in order to realise the meaning of attentiveness and listening.
Moreover, the etymological origin of the term dialogue was emphasized, namely, that the “Word” goes around. In fact, the purpose of having the Supper was deeply understood as an environment for sharing life, for reflexion and for questioning about the problematic realities of the world, tasting the food, being nourished by contemplating the face of the other through congenial “I-and-thou” dialogue with fellow diners, interspersed with artistic presentations: singing, instrumental music and dancing.
Ultimately, it can be said that this Eucharistic event was also a propitious and valuable occasion in the life of the parish community to listen to the witness given by two members of the ALLS Aggregation regarding their experience with the Eymardian family in the context of the Eucharistic Congress of Quito and to invite the participants to join the Aggregation in Lima. From table to table each one related their story, thus creating a reality of the culture of encounter that enables us to “spiritualize and eucharistize” life by edifying each other and sharing challenges in human and fraternal construction.
Father Elibien Joseph, sss
Parish Priest and local Director- ALLS, Lima
