The Eucharist: What else could we ask for?

Imagine a fairy godmother appeared to you this evening as you got ready for bed and promised you that by daily placing a penny into a piggy bank until February, your favorite team would win the Super Bowl.  I can assure you, you would certainly never miss adding a coin into that piggy bank.  You would be eager to place the coin, paying close attention that you never missed a day, perhaps even doing it as soon as you woke up.  Knowing with certainty that this would come to pass, if you didn’t do it, it would become a wasted opportunity – not taking advantage of such an unbelievable promise would be foolish.

Even though this promise is just an example and not only improbable, but of course impossible, I present it to stress the real and true promise Jesus Christ makes to each one of us who believe in him: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.”

In the opening prayer we asked God to help us attain the promises He has made which surpass every human desire.  Eternal life, to live forever in Christ, certainly is a promise that surpasses every human desire.

Jesus has been speaking very clearly as we have been hearing for the past few weeks from Saint John’s Gospel: those who receive him as true food and true drink will inherit eternal life.

We would never miss putting a coin (at least a penny) into that piggy bank for our team to win.  How much more attention must we pay to eat of the Body of Christ and drink of his blood to win eternal life!

We gather on Sunday as a community to receive this heavenly food in the way Jesus has asked us to do so.  At the last supper when he took bread and wine, blessed them and shared them he said, “do this in memory of me.”  Whenever a Mass is celebrated, Jesus’ instructions are put into action; we remember his saving deeds in the most perfect, Biblical way.

We gather on Sunday to be strengthened by the bread of heaven so we may have the grace to inherit eternal life.  Here we are strengthened by this heavenly food.  Here we ask for mercy and receive God’s forgiveness so we may continue in our Christian journey one week at a time.

We gather on Sunday to hear God’s Word through our ears as the Word takes flesh within our minds and souls.

We gather on Sunday because it is the Lord’s Day, the day Jesus Christ rose from among the dead.  As many of you know, the Jewish people kept holy and continue to keep holy Saturday, but for us Christians from early on, we gather as a community on Sunday since it’s the day Christ triumphed over death.

Jesus Christ has given himself for our salvation and feeds us with his own presence so we may remain faithful.  What else could we ask from Him?

The Jews following Jesus first asking for a sign.  When Jesus explained to them the sign, that his body is true food and his blood is true drink, the Jews doubted.  Oftentimes we are like the Jesus’ listeners: we fail to recognize the unsurpassable blessing and gift we have right before our eyes.

Jesus has surrendered himself for us on the cross, dying for love of us, what else could we ask from Him?

Jesus has left for us his presence here in Holy Communion, what else could we ask from Him?

Jesus is among us, not far away on a mighty throne, He is God with us, Emmanuel, what else could we ask from Him?

Jesus is among us under the appearance of bread and wine, what else could we ask from Him?

Jesus feeds us with heavenly food so we may enter into a profound union with him, what else could we ask from Him?

God is here showing us great humility.  As Jesus placed himself in the hands of men, took a risk out of love and was mistreated, in the same way Jesus continues to show us humility.  He places himself in our hands here at the altar, vulnerable, exposed to all types of indifference and lack of acknowledgement.

What else can we look for?  What else could we ask from Him?  The Lord is here, we must recognize him, praise him and, thank him.  The more we recognize him in the simple presence of bread and wine, the more we will recognize him in the ordinary events of our lives.

The Eucharist is the greatest sign Jesus has left us.  God is among us, let us come to adore him and to receive him in our hearts.