Msgr. Joseph Prior • Posted May 31, 2024

“This is my body.” We are all familiar these words which Jesus speaks as He celebrates the last supper with the apostles. They are the words used at the climax of the Mass when the priest consecrates the bread. Now no longer ordinary bread but the “Bread of Life.”

The sacrament, established by Jesus, makes Him present under the appearance of bread (and likewise wine when the cup is raised and the priest utters Jesus’ words, “This is my blood.”) Jesus is present with us in, during and after this celebration. He gives us his Body and Blood in love to feed and nourish us on the journey of life, to strengthen our communion and to fill us with hope.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We celebrate the mystery by which Jesus becomes really present to us in the consecrated bread and wine. Our senses perceive bread and wine; but when we look with the eyes of faith, we find Jesus, the Crucified and Risen Lord. Jesus is here in the celebration of the Eucharist, in the communion we share, and in the bread and wine, now become the Body and Blood of Christ.

The Vatican Council described the celebration of the Eucharist as the “source and summit” of our Christian life. (Vatican Council II, Lumen Gentium, 11) The celebration of the Eucharist makes present the life-saving passion, death and resurrection of Christ. Jesus references his body which will be broken and offered; and His blood which will be poured out and consumed. The celebration of the sacrament is done at his command, “Do this in memory of me,” as is the daily offering of our lives in love. The celebration of the Eucharist, the Mass, is thus centered around Jesus’ sacrifice. It is the source of life, eternal life, because it is in Christ Jesus that we have life. It is the summit, because it establishes and sustains the communion we share with God and each other in the bond of love. Lumen Gentium puts it this way:

As often as the sacrifice of the cross in which Christ our Passover was sacrificed, is celebrated on the altar, the work of our redemption is carried on, and, in the sacrament of the eucharistic bread, the unity of all believers who form one body in Christ is both expressed and brought about. All men are called to this union with Christ, who is the light of the world, from whom we go forth, through whom we live, and toward whom our whole life strains. (Vatican Council II, Lumen Gentium,3)

Flowing from the celebration of Mass, many parishes offer periods of time for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, an opportunity for parishioners to spend time with Our Lord in prayer. His presence in the consecrated host means He is there with them, with us. Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament has a certain comfort and satisfaction while instilling a longing and desire. We see the host and know the Lord is near. He is with us. It engages us in the sacramental mystery, lifting us beyond what we see, by the means of what we see. It urges us to live the life we celebrate by loving as we are loved. It fills us with hope that He who we see now under appearances will one day be seen face to face.

These past three years the Bishops of the United States have been actively inviting Catholics to revisit their understanding of the Eucharist. Sadly, many self-identifying Catholics have lost their belief in the “real presence.”

This week, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia welcomed the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage as it heads toward Indianapolis where Catholics from across the country will take place in the National Eucharistic Congress (www.eucharisticcongress.org). The procession and various prayer opportunities along the way help us to rouse our faith in Christ Jesus and the Eucharist.

His gift to us, is the gift of Himself. Even if we cannot participate directly in these processions or the congress, the opportunity to encounter the Lord in the Eucharist is always available in our parishes through Mass and Adoration.

Jesus’ self-offering on the cross, reflected in the words of consecration, is an offering of love. “Take this all of you and eat of it, this is my body, which is offered up for you.” He gives of Himself, totally, in love for us.

The reality is also reflected in the words over the chalice, “Take this, all of you, and drink from it. This is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be offered for you and for many for the forgiveness of sin. Do this in memory of me.”

His blood is poured out for us. His is a sacrifice of love, a sacrifice of mercy.

The Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ, draws us into the mystery of His love, strengthens us to live the life of love, sustains us in His love and inflames our hope.

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