I love a simple tabernacle.
I’ve had many impactful moments with Christ in front of the one in my college chapel, a sleek silver box with the Greek alpha and omega embossed on it, alongside a modern design of a bushel of wheat and bundle of grapes. It was there that I decided to become Catholic just a few summers ago.
The simplicity of the tabernacle helped me focus on the beauty of who was stored within, and allowed me to realize that Christ was truly present in the Eucharist.
Another tabernacle that stands out in my memories is at the Church of St.-Germain-des-Prés in Paris, a historic parish originally built in the sixth century. It is the original burial place of St. Germain, an early Bishop of Paris. The white tabernacle is underneath a thin cross etched into the wall, and like every tabernacle in the world, it holds the Body and Blood of Christ. In that church, I was alone but not alone. It was just me and Jesus.
Now, simplicity doesn’t always equal holiness. But then again, neither does extravagance. Again, what matters is not the tabernacle itself, but he whom the tabernacle holds.
I’ve always believed, at least passively, that God dwells within us. It’s a core Christian belief that is at the center of the Gospel—that the one who created the universe chooses to be with his creation in such an intimate and beautiful way. However, I haven’t often thought about what it means that, with Christ dwelling within us, by receiving him in Holy Communion we ourselves become mini-tabernacles, walking around the earth. This reality of Christ with us not only empowers us to view the image of God in others, but also in ourselves. God made us, and chose to dwell in us. That has to say something about our worth!
In a country where Black bodies are constantly demonized, sexualized, or simply devalued on a day-to-day basis, it’s easy to forget that our worth doesn’t come from the world, but from the creator of the world. Just like how every tabernacle in every church points towards our beautiful savior, our bodies reflect a God that saw creating us as a good for the world around us.
Our Blackness is an invitation to see the holiness and creativity of the Lord, who dwells within us. It’s a declaration that no matter what the world says, regardless of what immature young Republicans say about us in their pathetic group chats, whatever constant bombardment of racism and filth our U.S. Catholic Church turns a blind eye toward, our worth comes from the one who decided to dwell within us.
Tulio Huggins is a campus minister at Dartmouth College, where he graduated from in 2023. His hobbies include writing, baking bread, and playing rugby. You can follow him on Instagram at @tulioisreading.
