Daily Reflections - April 19,2013

SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THE EUCHARIST

 

I am not surprised that the Jews who listened to Jesus were shocked and angered, saying: “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

For the Jews it was (and still is) strictly prohibited to taste blood. Animals slaughtered for food have to be drained completely of all blood

before they can be sold or cooked. They believed that blood was the seat of life. So eating flesh and drinking blood amounted to cannibalism. Let us be honest. We, too, feel uncomfortable when we read Jesus speaking so bluntly about eating His flesh. In connection with the whole discourse Jesus gave, we know that the flesh He speaks of is given in the Bread of Life in which He offers His Body.

This leads us to a reflection about the Eucharist, which is not, as our Protestant brethren teach, a symbol of Christ but Christ Himself. At the Last Supper, Jesus did not take the bread and say, “This is a symbol of my Body,” but “This IS my Body.” It is only the Catholic and the Orthodox Churches who have the right understanding of the Eucharist by believing firmly in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

What does this mean for us? It is quite obvious that, according to this teaching, we meet in the Eucharist not just a symbol but Jesus Christ Himself. It pains me so much when I see so many churchgoers coming late, missing the preparation for the encounter with Christ, disturbing those who are there on time, and often showing not the slightest reverence. Many walk in and out of churches the way they walk in a mall, still talking to each other, texting, not doing any genuflection or bowing, not decently dressed,  and seemingly bored. (How I wish you were distributing Communion and would see all this.)

What did St. Paul write about those who did not show reverence to the Eucharist? “That’s why so many among you are sick,” he wrote. That should make us think, right? Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you always aware that Christ is really present when you attend Mass and receive Holy Communion?

 

Lord, I admit that, at times, I have not taken Your real presence in the Eucharist seriously enough. Forgive me, and help me approach and receive You more worthily.