As we journey this week toward the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ on Sunday, we must reflect on what the Eucharist means to us. I think that it is hard for us to believe that this bread and wine that we partake in each Sunday (or at least have the opportunity to) is really Jesus. If we could wrap our minds around it, how would Sunday Mass and my life during the whole week be different? How would we act in our daily lives if we thought that on Sunday we would have a visit from Jesus himself, would we be more apt to live a life that he could be proud of? As a parent I often wonder if I taught my son well, so well that he would live our family values out in the world without me around. Does he live the values because he too understands and buys into them, or because he fears me? Do we sometimes live in a way that we think we can “sneak” around Jesus, like God is not with us every moment? I think that it is the same with our relationship with Jesus Christ. What would we do for Him? Because we have to remember that whatever we do in sacrifice for Jesus we obtain sevenfold for our own good through grace. Think about it, if today we are mindful of others, if we give what we can, if we are more gentle with the people God has given in our care, if we choose to do what is right, our life will be better -- not only our life, but the world will be better.
It is so important for us to remember that Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever EATS this bread will live forever.” He didn’t say, “Whoever hangs out with me, will live for ever.” If we hang out with someone or something, it doesn’t really become a part of us, but when we eat something, that which we ate, is no longer visible, and the nutrients from the food enter each of our molecules in one form or another, and then we are different -- either healthy or not.
We must get our heads and our hearts around this concept, that Jesus is present, really present, in the Eucharist, because the Eucharist, is one of those things that makes us REALLY CATHOLIC! This week, attend a daily mass if possible, give Jesus a real try, consume Him and have Him consume you, walk this week like Jesus is standing next to you and that you are not alone. Make all decisions with Him.
Come back on Wednesday on ways to bring this into your parish!
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