The lives of a majority of the people in our Western world are divided between two spheres – real and virtual. The current pandemic and constant lockdowns make people spend even more time in the ‘virtual reality’ of mobile phones and computers. Electronic devices became means of communication between people, friends or even members of families. Those who experience this kind of isolation say about deep longing for loved ones, longing for seeing each other, talking face-to-face or even giving a hug. “Man is a social animal by nature,” says Aristotle. Man seeks others, seeks contact with them, seeks their real presence. Electronic devices can make contact with others easier. However, they never replace encounters with real people in the real world.
The pandemic also caused the virtualisation of our worship. Many people had to replace participation in the Sunday Liturgies by watching live streaming. Is anything lacking in this way of attending Mass? What did I feel watching the Mass on the screen of my device instead of being there in person? These are very challenging questions, even if they don’t look so. The answer may show the attitude to the Eucharist.
Virtualisation is the process of creating a virtual version of something. Usually, the word is used in the context of computers, but its meaning can be extended. For example, art is a kind of ‘virtual’ world. In his work, an artist tries to copy a part of reality. His painting becomes useful yet still artificial. A piece of art isn’t reality, even if it copies the latter perfectly. In the same way, a ‘virtual room’ doesn’t replace a real encounter. An online chat with a person doesn’t enable one to experience the interlocutor in his/her fullness.
In our religious reality, we have icons and statues. They are artistic fruits of someone’s talent. When we pray in their presence, we treat them as signs representing the transcendent reality. They should help us in prayer, so in meditative approaching God. In a way, there is a similarity between icons and images on the screen, especially in regard to their relation to reality – the earthly or heavenly one.
Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “this is my body,” “this is my blood which is to be poured out.” He didn’t want to leave the faithful only with symbols related and directed them to Him, but He offered His real presence. He is present in the Eucharist as realistically as a family member at the table at lunch. Let us be thankful for this precious gift. Let us be grateful that the Eucharist – the centre of the Christian life – gathers us in our Churches around our Saviour not virtually but truly and tangibly.
Łukasz Gołąb –Seminary of the Good Shepherd, Sydney, Australia