We continue reading the sixth chapter of John in our Scripture readings for mass today. Known as the bread of life discourse, Jesus goes on to teach His followers that we are to eat His body and drink His blood in order to have eternal life. “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you." (John 6:53) We can understand the people's shock and horror when they heard these words for the first time. They are so physical and blunt about eating flesh and drinking blood. This saying of Jesus is not shocking to us since it is so routine that we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus at every mass we attend. Maybe it is too routine for us?
With today's readings we should focus on something that we as Catholics take so much for granted, the meaning of the red lamp by the tabernacle in every Catholic Church around the world. This red lamp reminds us of the true presence of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ that can be found in the tabernacle.
The Church is a large world wide organization with many layers of structures. It's a worldwide institution with many apostolates and ministries, and millions and millions of people on every continent. Yet at the heart and center of all this activity is the Eucharist. That is the heart of the Church. The Eucharist is something that we take for granted but it is essential for our Catholic life, like the beating of our hearts.
We have much in common with other Christians such as affirming "Jesus as Lord and Savior," "God's Word in Sacred Scripture" and the truths of the Creed. But what makes Catholic life and Catholic spirituality unique is the Eucharist. It is the center of our life, more than we realize.
In all we do, let us not take the Body and Blood of Jesus as routine. Let us remember that it is truly the Body and Blood of Jesus we receive at Holy Communion. Let us then take the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ with us into the world to serve others in our life. In this way, Christ is truly present in the world. Let Christ use us in our daily life!
YES, it is true that we so often receive OUR LORD in the Eucharist that it is easy to lose sight of the wonder & awe and take our reception of the LORD & His gift of Himself in the Eucharist for granted. It is easy to get distracted as well. It is still awesome to look up at the newly consecrated Sacred Host & realize it is JESUS--the Incarnate Son of God--God Himself--as we gaze upon Him at the Elevation and say, as St. Thomas did, "MY LORD & MY GOD", but then it is so easy to go on and forget and lose some of that awe. YES, I love the words at the end of the Mass when the form "The Mass is ended. God forth, glorifying the LORD with your life" is used. Ideally the Mass & the LORD's Presence are to make a difference & we are to bring the LORD Whom we have received to everyone whose lives we touch. Amen.
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