We Become One Body

Listening to the Spirit

Father, as we have received these gifts of bread and wine,
you have fed us with the spiritual food of the body and blood
of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Thank you for assuring us of your goodness and love,
and that we are members of his body.
Renew us by your Holy Spirit,
unite us in the body of your Son,
and bring us with all your people
into the joy of your eternal kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(source https://bettergatherings.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=122&Itemid=120)

Listening to the Word

Luke 9:11b–17

When the crowds learned it, they followed him; and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God, and cured those who had need of healing. Now the day began to wear away; and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away, to go into the villages and country round about, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a lonely place.” But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Make them sit down in companies, about fifty each.” And they did so, and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate and were satisfied. And they took up what was left over, twelve baskets of broken pieces.

Reflection

We celebrate the Feast of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ this coming Sunday. We celebrate the love of the Lord who does not leave us alone in the world after his ascension at his Father's right hand. Through the Eucharist, Jesus is always by our side as the food that gives us strength on our earthly journey. This is the fulfillment of Jesus' promise: "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Mt 28:20). Through the Eucharist, Jesus is here, in the midst of his people, the church.

Bread and wine are simple foods in Jewish culture. It is their daily diet. Why did God choose this common thing to be like his presence? Why didn't God choose the rich and beautiful to show us all his greatness? Why not with a diamond, or gold, or pearl? God chose simple food so that we can understand that we can be in communion with him in the midst of ordinary situations, just as God reveals his presence in the simple piece of bread. We find God in our office, in our school, in our family. We meet with Him in our work, in our parish, and in our community meeting. God is also present in our neighbors, in the poor and sick, in the good and bad person we encounter, the strong in faith, and the unbeliever. There is a God in these situations. And we better perceive this divine presence when we love God and our neighbors.

The Eucharist is also a powerful tool for changing our lives. We eat the body of Christ, and because of this, we become what we eat, Jesus himself. Because of the Eucharist, we all become Jesus! We do not only meet him. Instead, we become him! Because of this, we also receive new light, power, knowledge, faith… Because of his presence in our hearts, we enjoy his manifold blessings.

Finally, the Eucharist is a sacrament of our communion. The Eucharist is God's gift to unite people. We know it is not easy to love one another. It is not easy, for example, to overcome conflicts and start again. But the Eucharist helps us to forgive and love our neighbor so that we can become a family. The Eucharist transforms us in Christ, not only as mere individuals but as a community. This is what we call the “Mystical Body of Christ,” which is the unity of the "Chritified" members of the church. The church believes, as the Priest prays during the Eucharistic celebration: "… grant that we, who are nourished by the Body and Blood of your Son and filled with his Holy Spirit, may become one body, one spirit in Christ” (3rd Eucharistic Prayer). Making unity out of different people is the main aim of the Eucharist, the sacrament of communion.

Finally, if the Eucharist is such a great gift, why do we rush out of the church at the end of the mass, unaware of such grace, plunging ourselves back into worldly businesses? Why not spend a little while in silence at the end of the celebrations, to express our gratitude to God for the sacrament we receive?