Deut. 8:2-3, 14-16; Psalm 148; 1Cor. 10:16-17; John 6:51-58
The Eucharist
- The Eucharis is the real presence of Jesus Christ: The readings today invite us to reflect on the Eucharist (Holy Communion). The Eucharist is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, together with his Soul and Divinity, under the appearances of bread and wine. Though they appear as bread and wine but in truth the Eucharist is not a symbol of Christ presence; but his actual presence. The Catechism of the Catholic Church strongly asserts the “Real Presence” of Jesus’ body in the Eucharist. This doctrine was affirmed at the Lateran Council of 1215. We are not dealing with a symbol and we are not gathered together because of a symbol. Jesus did not give them symbol to eat. A symbol is a sign, shape or object which is used to represent something else. He gave them his body and blood. The Lord Himself said: ‘This is my body’; not ‘a symbol or foreshadowing of my body’ but ‘my body,’ and not ‘a foreshadowing of my blood’ but ‘my blood’ (John 6:55) and the bible says they all ate and were satisfied (Matthew 14:20). Symbol could not have satisfied them. Can the symbol of a car satisfy you as the car itself? The symbol takes you nowhere but the car takes you somewhere.
- The Eucharist is gives of eternal life: The first reading speaks of manna, the very bread that sustained the Israelite during their stay in the desert. The Israelites ate manna for forty years, until they came to a habitable land. 1Kings 19:7-8 the Angel of the Lord fed Elijah with bread so that he might find strength to complete his journey and come to Horeb, the mountain of God. We can’t come to that Mountain until we are strengthened by the superior bread. Life can be sustained by food: whether manna, rice, beans and the likes; but life eternal is given and sustained by the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. In John 6:54, Jesus says “he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day”. This also means that his body and blood is also a condition for resurrection into eternal life.
- Eucharist requires preparation: 1Cor.10:16 The second reading says the cup of blessing which we bless and the bread which we break is a participation in the body and blood of Christ. This participation demands proper preparation. On one hand this involves remote preparation such as regular prayer and reading of Scriptures, the faithful and loving fulfillment of the daily responsibilities of our state in life, and regular confession including daily repentance of sin by an examination of conscience and recitation of the Act of Contrition. On the other hand, it includes proximate preparations such as prayerful recollection as we come to Mass and fasting from food and drink for at least one hour prior to receiving Holy Communion as our health and age permit. These are not mere sanctions but spiritual necessities for participation in the divine life. God bless you!
- The Eucharist is a means of Unity: 1Cor 10:17 The second reading tells us that the Eucharist is broken and shared as a means of unity. It is an expression of love and sincere bond. Again, Jesus says in the gospel, he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him. To abide in him and him in us is communion. So the Eucharist is called Holy Communion because it brings us into union with Christ. It is not just an anyhow union; but a holy union. Precisely because of this, Jesus gave a powerful illustration of what it means to abide in him in the gospel of John 15:5 says I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. Therefore, those who live in holy union with Christ are to bear fruits. The fruits as enumerated in Gal5:22-23 are “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” These are the fervent expressions and characters of those who receive Holy Communion.
To “abide in him and him in me” implies connection, dependence and continuance. A branch is connected to the vine, and a vine to the branch. If there is no connection, there is no life and no fruit. Thus, Jesus says in today’s gospel John 6:53 “…you will have no life”. Dependence; this aspect of abiding, unlike connection, is not reciprocal. The branch is dependent on the vine, but the vine is not dependent on the branch. We all depend on Christ, through him will find spiritual nutrient and strength. Abiding also involves continuance. In fact, “abide” (Greek, meno) means to remain, or stay, or continue. Thus, those who receive Holy Communion and are in that Holy union ought to always continue in that relationship. So what the priest says the Mass is ended; it means it is extended in your life. What you do here at mass go and do the same outside. (These are altars where you offer love.)
LET US PRAY
O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion, grant us, we pray, so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption. Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever. AMEN.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
