They Want to See Jesus

In many Anglican churches, the priest will hold up the bread for the Eucharist, either during or after the Eucharistic prayer. We do this to focus the attention of the congregation at a pivotal moment in the liturgy. As Anglicans, we believe that the Body and Blood of Christ are present in the bread and wine we share at the altar. We may not necessarily agree on how or when it happens, but we believe that the bread and wine change. They are not literally becoming Christ’s Body and Blood, but there is something more than a purely symbolic representation. The best that we can say is that Christ is present sacramentally in these formerly ordinary things.

Some clergy hold up the bread because the congregation are watching for a glimpse of Jesus. This moment becomes a focal point in the service when the faithful show the reverence and devotion they would show to Christ himself if he were physically present. Others hold up the bread to show the congregation what they are becoming. Just as ordinary bread becomes the Body of Christ, so ordinary people are becoming the Body of Christ—the Church.

Receiving and becoming the Body of Christ is a great privilege for us, but...

This post originally appeared in the January 2022 issue of Anglican Life.

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