We reflect this Sunday on the profound readings given to us and discern these themes: our need to find our true selves in Christ, and in particular, how He presents Himself to us in the Eucharist.
In Proverbs, we see the invitation of Wisdom to a great feast, symbolically echoing the banquet of the Eucharist. Wisdom calls out, inviting the simple and the understanding alike, saying, “Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed!” This invitation reflects God's desire for us to partake in something that nourishes our souls, just as food nourishes our bodies.
Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, warns us to live wisely, not indulging in trivialities, but rather seeking to understand God’s will. He reminds us to be filled with the Spirit, addressing each other in psalms and spiritual songs. When we gather for the Eucharist, we are not merely attending a ritual; we are celebrating life—the life that comes through Christ, the living bread.
Then we turn to the Gospel of John, where Jesus proclaims, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven.” Here we find the heart of our faith: that this bread, which we partake of, is not ordinary bread; it is His very body and blood.
The Jews did not understand how He could give them His flesh to eat, and to be honest, it’s a question many still grapple with today. How can this be?
But herein lies the invitation: to trust in His words. Jesus gives us a command, not for His benefit but for ours. In the great Eucharistic miracle of Lanciano, a priest who doubted the true presence saw the consecrated host turn into actual flesh and blood during Mass. Medical professionals analyzed it centuries later and confirmed that it was human cardiac tissue—flesh you only find in the heart of a man. This miracle serves as a powerful reminder that faith and understanding can go hand in hand, and that what we receive in Communion is no mere symbol, but the reality of Christ Himself. In the miracle in Buenos Aires in 1996, that heart tissue, upon examination, was seen to be still palpitating.
When we partake of the Eucharist, we are not simply participating in a ceremony; we are receiving the living Christ into our very bodies—his Sacred Heart which beats great love for us eternally. Jesus invites us to take, eat, and drink, promising that this will lead us to eternal life. He invites us to trust—trust in His promise, trust that by partaking of this substance, we are connected to Him in a profound and transformative way.
As Paul urges us to live wisely, we can consider every Eucharistic celebration an opportunity to deepen our relationship with Christ. It is here we find the wisdom that the world can’t provide—a wisdom that transcends understanding, rooted in a love that draws us into the heart of God.
So, as we prepare to approach the altar and partake of this sacred meal, let us do so with open hearts, trusting in Jesus’ words: this is truly His body and blood—our living bread that sustains us on our journey of faith. Let us not merely fill our bellies but our souls, so that through Him, we may also be transformed into instruments of His love and peace in the world. Amen.
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