THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

The celebration of the mystery of the Eucharist: simple bread and wine is transformed into the body and blood of Christ. The gift of his Body and Blood, which Christ offered on the cross for our redemption, was anticipated at the last supper. The feast calls us to cebrate! We give thanks for Christ having chosen the Eucharist as a unique means for Him to be in our midst in a special way, as the channel through which his love and mercy flow to us most abundantly, and as the way of communicating his life to us more intensely.

Eucharistic celebration is the source and summit of our Christian life. It is the source of God's life and strength, to nourish us with faith and hope, to live our daily life in a challenging world. It is our summit, since ultimately we will sit at the table of the Lord sharing his life for eternity, in his kingdom. Therefore, our participation in the Holy Mass is the pivotal and necessary to share the life of God and draw his strength and nourishment to our body and soul.

At the Eucharistic table, we share the one bread, the wine from the cup, and we become one body of Christ. Consequently, we should leave behind our jealousies, animosity, and differences, realizing that we are all in Christ. This awareness lead us to comprehend the mystical body of Christ, of which, we all are members. Therefore, coming together as the Body of Christ, to share in the mystery of the Eucharist is essential, as well as to feed the living members of this body with our love, faith and hope. We must come together as a community, for our absence from the church is detrimental to the growth and wellbeing of the body of Christ.

This Eucharist is broken for all for the remittance of our sins. It is also broken to teach us how we must break ourselves for one another. Jesus multiplied the bread for five thousand people, when He saw their hunger. If we cannot share our bread, our life and love with those in need- the homeless, desperate and abundant, then we are far from the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
.... Fr. Peter Fernandes, sfx