The Olympics Last Supper Blasphemy: We Are Partially Responsible

Last week, thousands of viewers saw a group of drag queens perform what seemed to be a parody of Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” Creator Thomas Jolly insisted that it was not meant to mimic “The Last Supper”, but rather a bacchanalia. However, drag queen performer Barbara Butch, who sat centerfold with a silver halo, said the opposite and proclaimed it to be a “new gay testament.”

Regardless of the original intent, it’s hard to deny the resemblance to the Last Supper. And I can’t help but wonder if we Catholics and Christians are, in part, responsible for this blasphemy.

We Too Have Fallen Short of the Glory of God

Recently, I visited a Catholic shrine that had on its grounds a large stone table with a statue of Christ, surrounded by twelve empty stone stools. I have seen this kind of outdoor art at other retreat centers and churches, and as a result, groups of pilgrims, retreatants, and missionaries alike, imitate the Last Supper painting.

I never liked it. Even if done in good fun and with no intent to blaspheme, it did not strike me as good taste. Now, I can’t help but wonder if our light-hearted treatment of the Institution of the Eucharist contributed to this sacrilege at the 2024 Olympics. If we, as Christians, do not hold these sacred mysteries with reverence, why are we surprised when those who do not know Christ mistreat them?

Certainly, just as St. Paul said in Romans 3:23, “All have fallen short of the glory of God.” And we are not exempt from this. The world is watching us, and we have not always provided a Christ-like example to it.

Our Path Forward: Repentance & Evangelization

So, what can we do? The Catechism of the Catholic Church provides our answer:

On her pilgrimage, the Church has also experienced the "discrepancy existing between the message she proclaims and the human weakness of those to whom the Gospel has been entrusted." Only by taking the "way of penance and renewal," the "narrow way of the cross," can the People of God extend Christ's reign. For "just as Christ carried out the work of redemption in poverty and oppression, so the Church is called to follow the same path if she is to communicate the fruits of salvation to men." (CCC, #853)

In short, we must forge ahead with a spirit of repentance. Even at the National Eucharistic Congress, Fr. Mike Schmitz declared that we “cannot have Eucharistic Revival without repentance.” This does not mean that we must berate ourselves incessantly, but rather examine our consciences, go to the fountain of mercy through the Sacrament of Confession, and trust that God forgives us as his children.

But our task is not over - repentance is not just to make ourselves feel better, but to help advance the Gospel mission. Though tempting, we mustn’t point fingers or condemn those who participated in the Olympic blasphemy, but rather follow the call to our missionary vocation:

The missionary task implies a respectful dialogue with those who do not yet accept the Gospel…They proclaim the Good News to those who do not know it, in order to consolidate, complete, and raise up the truth and the goodness that God has distributed among men and nations, and to purify them from error and evil "for the glory of God, the confusion of the demon, and the happiness of man." (CCC, #856)

God Always Brings Good Out of Evil

Perhaps in this unfortunate event, God is still bringing about good: we now have a great opportunity to share what it is that we believe. Why was this display at the Olympics so egregious? Because we believe Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.

I do not believe that it is a coincidence that this event occurred a week after the National Eucharistic Congress. In the United States, God performed miracles and his Son Jesus has made his presence known in the Eucharist. Through these recent events, we have a tremendous opportunity to make our Lord in the Eucharist known and loved. Are we willing to humble ourselves and admit where we have not respected his presence? Will we be bold in proclaiming Jesus in the Eucharist, “to the ends of the earth”?