The Body and Blood of Christ

Only in the Catholic Church is the mystery of the Body and Blood of Christ given the highest veneration, and kept alive in true faith by the command of the Lord, "Do this in my memory." Jesus came on earth to gather God's people together, into one community. It is well said that the gathering of the people around the banquet table creates equality with dignity. Hence, at the Eucharistic table, all are welcome to partake of one bread and of one cup, in order to form One Body of Christ.

Today, we rejoice and give praise to our Lord for having given himself as our own spiritual food and drink in the Holy Eucharist. We Christians celebrate this mystery with great joy and faith, as this is an imperative for our sprititual growwth, and food for the journey. this mystery allows us to contemplate ever better our absolute need of the Eucharist for our Christian life, both as individual and as a community.

However, there are many who do not believe this mystery to be true, and they chose to walk away depressed and discouraged. The account of the two disciples on their way to Emmaus after the death of Jesus, gives us an indication of defeat and loss they were suffering. Nevertheless, these disciples had what it would take to believe. They possessed an openness to God's Spirit. They were blessed to witness the first Eucharistic miracle. At the breaking of the bread they recognize the presence of the Risen Lord.

The Risen Lord is really and truly present in the form of bread and wine. It is neither a total physical presence nor total spiritual presence, but the real presence of the Risen Lord.We believe in faith, and accept it as the perfect gift from God to humanity. "Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no life within you." Jesus offered his life on the cross, as the sacrificial lamb for our redemption. God gave us new life through the life of His Son, Jesus, in the Holy Spirit, which we receive in fullness at the Eucharistic Table.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, and members of the Body of Christ, we are called to transform society. Our mission is to imitate Jesus, who broke himself and spilled his blood to give us life. He invites us to do the same for our brothers and sisters around us. When we truly share our life with others, we help to complete the sacrifice of Jesus to heal the world and establish God's Kingdom here in our midst.

-Fr. Peter Fernandes,sfx, St. Timothy Church, Chicago, Illinois, USA.