Friday 3rd Week of Easter

Gospel – John 6:51-58

It’s the Real Thing!

Along the Via Dolorosa

My watch stopped working a couple of weeks ago. That may not seem like such a big deal but that watch is 53 years old; it belonged to my Dad and since his death, I have worn it faithfully every single day.  I also wear a ring on my right hand, a class ring.  But again it is not mine; it was also my dad’s for his 1939 high school graduation.  It is 84 years old.

Both of them are a constant reminder to me of my dad, our relationship and all the memories I have of him.  They give me a feeling that my dad is still here with me, guiding me and encouraging me. But in the end, the watch is not my dad; the ring is not my dad.  They are reminders; they are symbols, memories of the past.  But it’s not the same as having him right here beside me.

I’m holding an unconsecrated host, simple unleavened bread, nothing more.  But in a few moments at Mass, it will be transformed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.  Not symbolically!  It’s not just a symbol, not just a memory, not just a reminder of the Last Supper.  It truly becomes Jesus’ Body and Blood.  It is real!

We hear in today’s Gospel Jesus’ proclaiming Himself the Living Bread that has come down from heaven – the Eucharist, the gift of real spiritual food that feeds our souls! All who eat of it will live forever.  The cup of blessing and the bread we break!  They all speak to us of God’s great love and care for us

A couple of years ago, we had a group of French visitors to the St. Kateri Center.  We celebrated Mass with them.  And I will never forget the experience of ministering Holy Communion to them.  The quiet awe and reverence they showed!  The prayerful care they took as they took the Host in their hands.  There was no rush, no hurriedness to just get the Host and get back to their pew.  This was no assembly line or group racing to get their food.  It was meditative, prayerful, reverent, as if they were receiving Communion for the very first time!

My hope, my prayer, is that as we too come with the same reverence, the same piety and hunger for the Eucharist that we saw in those French visitors.  And may we never ever take Holy Communion for granted.  May we always remember and BELIEVE that what we receive in the Eucharist is not some symbol or memory but truly the Body and Blood of Christ.

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