Blog

Today we are celebrating the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Like with any wonderful celebration, we serve food and beverages. Unlike any other celebration, what we share in food and drink isn’t elaborate, but ordinary. It is unbelievable to me that something as ordinary as bread becomes so extraordinary in task. We hear about meals being prepared and shared for people. We hear of Jesus feeding five thousand people with very limited resources. Throughout his journey, we often hear of Jesus preparing. Preparing for his journey, ministering to the people. Preparing for his ultimate sacrifice so that we may be eternally saved, preparing our place in God’s kingdom. Are you sensing the theme? Jesus prepares. We hear of him in the second reading, preparing the last supper. This being one of his two gifts to us. “This is my body that is for you”. The second being the kingdom. These two gifts, a place and a meal. Both of these bequeathed to us in the Eucharist, an ordinary bread but when consecrated, an extraordinary experience.

The Eucharist prepares us here on earth, to be Godly. To include one and all of God’s creation. We give birth and rebirth to His church. The Eucharist also prepares us for our place in God’s kingdom. It is the promise of and everlasting life, a future infinitely greater than one we can imagine. The Eucharist is Jesus himself, food for our journey, nourishment for our eternal happiness. It is food for our souls that satisfies, there is no greater love. It is there that we share in his life and love and that we may find peace.

The Eucharist is a transforming encounter, with a person: Jesus himself. It is our constant reminder to be guiding lights for God’s people. It gives us life, direction and purpose. In sharing the Eucharist, we should follow the example of Jesus’ disciple, to go out into the world and spread the Word. The word of an eternal covenant and an everlasting life. The word of a great love, an extraordinary love that everyone can experience by accepting an ordinary piece of bread.
Katy Mahoney