May 29, 2016 - Sunday

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26 NABRE)

These words have become very familiar to many of us because they reflect the heart of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, a ritual established by Jesus at the Last Supper as described in the gospel accounts, using a pattern established thousands of years before by Melchizedek, king of Salem and a priest of God, who blessed God Most High and Abram, using bread and wine as his offering, after a great military victory (Genesis 14:18-20).

But familiarity with the words often brings with it a dulling of the spiritual importance and historical substance. This is a risk of any ritual, but when we pause and reflect on this particular event we find it gives us the chance to regularly connect in body and in Spirit with our Lord.

Remembering that this ritual has been preserved for so long gives it a sense of stability which is so important to each new generation. Realizing how Jesus changed the ritual underscores its divine authority--just consider how Jesus took it upon himself to change God's ancient covenant (something to consider another time)--giving us a new understanding of this man, Jesus. And recognizing how Jesus' Church continues to remember him every day by means of this miraculous and mysterious changing of bread and wine into his actual body and blood gives us confidence in our faithful understanding.

While we cannot begin to explain the fullness of this spiritual mystery, we can rely on regular reception of Jesus in the form of the Eucharist as our central opportunity to be physically with him in this lifetime. And we can remain focused on the reality that our entire observable universe is just a small notion in God's omnipotent mind.


Today, on this Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, I will be grateful to share in Jesus' full and true presence.


Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat, French saint who founded the Society of the Sacred Heart, who was dedicated to helping ensure for others the blessings she enjoyed, and who died May 25, 1865, pray for us.

Source: https://twitter.com/rscjusc