Daily Reflections - June 10, 2012

GOD IS WITH US IN THE EUCHARIST

 

As Catholics, we believe that the bread and wine in the Eucharist becomes the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. This happens during the epiclesis, or the time when the priest lays his hands over the two species while saying, “Let your Spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy so that they may become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It is God through His Spirit who makes it happen, not the priest.

God is present to us in so many ways: in the congregation, in the priest, in the Word of God, in all Creation, and in all events of life. But we further believe that He is really and truly present in the Eucharist. That is why in communion, the priest says, “The Body of Christ!” The priest presents to the communicant not a symbol or a representation of the Lord but Jesus Himself. And we say “Amen” to profess our faith in what we receive.

Jesus Himself instituted the Eucharist and made Himself available in the form of bread and wine. In the Gospel today, Jesus, after taking and blessing the bread, broke it and gave it to His disciples saying, “Take it, this is my body.” He did the same to the wine and said, “This is my blood.” According to Dr. Scott Hahn, who made a thorough study of the Bread of Life Discourse (John 6) of Jesus, if He meant it to be a symbol, He would have said so. But He really meant it to be His Body and Blood when He said, “The bread that I will give is my flesh for the light of the world.”

Many claim that they have received communion so many times but nothing seems to be happening to them. The Eucharist is not a magic food that will instantly transform our lives; if we think so, then we are mistaken. Receiving the Lord entails preparation and reparation. We must approach the table of the Lord in humility and purity. Reconciliation is the optimum need. Only then can we be transformed by Him and become more like Him.

When we approach the priest for communion, let us be aware that we are receiving Jesus Himself. Everything we say and do should be a reflection of Him whom we received — and then He becomes real in us! Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you keenly aware that you are receiving Jesus Himself in the Eucharist? How has it transformed you?

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for giving us Your Body and Blood. May we receive You always with purity and humility, and thus, be transformed and become more like You.