Hocus Pocus

When Ann and I were in Louisville for Launch not too long ago, we had the pleasure of attending Shivcly CC. The gentleman who was doing the communion meditation shared with us the origins of the phrase hocus pocus. Now, any true Harry Potter fan (and you know who you are) surely knows the current meaning of hocus pocus. It is, today, simply a meaningless phrase used by a magician to confuse or distract his audience so that they do not see what is really happening. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, Dorothy ... (That was for you, Brandi!)

But the probable origin of this phrase is what is most interesting. Most likely it comes from Roman Catholic masses during the time of communion when the priest would quote in Latin the words of Christ, "This is (my) body...," "hoc est (enim) corpus (meum)." Of course, most of us are familiar with the Catholic teaching of transubstantiation, whereby the wafer of bread, upon the utterance of these words, is believed to become the actually body of Jesus. It is likewise taught in Catholicism that the wine becomes the actual blood of Jesus. To the layperson of years gone by, it may have seemed that the words spoken by the priest were magic and in themselves had the power to conjure up God himself! Of course, perhaps it was quite the opposite. Perhaps, seeing no real change to the wafer and wine, they felt the priest's usage of "hoc est corpus" was merely to confuse or distract them so that they wouldn't realize that no change actually took place. This phrase was later corrupted into "hocus pocus."

As you may have noticed, I really get into word origins. Did you know that "hokey pokey," "hanky panky," and "hoax," all are of the same derivation? I think that's cool.

But, what's the point? (Ok, I'm pulling a Brandon...what is the point? Oh, here, I've got one!) There is no magic in communion. No magic in the crucifixion. Or is there? How about the magic of unconditional love. The magic of grace. The magic of God dying for me? Ok, maybe magic isn't the right word, but it is definitely supernatural. It's definitely a miracle beyond comprehension, explanation, and understanding.

That's what we have to share with the people of Italy, from whence came this hocus pocus. We have the truth. The reality. We have the genuine Christ, and him crucified, to share with the Italian people. I can't wait to get there to fulfill the calling God has for me.