Every Catholic knows that the central teaching of the Church is that Jesus is really and truly present in the signs of Bread & Wine. Sunday, 11th June is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ – CORPUS CHRISTI – the real presence of Jesus. Although the Eucharist is celebrated every day, it is fitting that at least once a year, it be celebrated with great honour and solemn commemoration. Saint John Paul II said, “To live the Eucharist, it is necessary as well, to spend much time in adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament”.
A study carried out in the United States revealed that the majority (70%) of the catholics, on their own admission, either do not understand or do not believe in the Real Presence of Jesus; that the Bread and Wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus. More shocking is that in the younger age-group – 40 years and below – 80% do not believe in this central teaching of the Catholic Church. It is a mystery. It is hard to grasp. If anyone should struggle with this belief of our faith they need to approach a priest in order to receive help. We cannot allow doubt to enter our discipleship of Jesus. The presence of Jesus under the appearances of Bread & Wine (Eucharist) is at the heart of our life. If the Eucharist is taken out of the Church, spiritually the Church will just die.
The Eucharist is the Source and Summit of our entire life. The Christian way of life does not make sense without the Real Presence of our Lord Jesus. We need to have an intense love for the Eucharist. It is shown in a conscious participation in the Mass. The Mass is the greatest, holiest and most mystical act on earth. It is not meant for entertainment. We need to focus on the importance of coming early (not wait for the last minute). Getting in a few minutes early can be helpful for the experience of the Mass. Secondly, when we enter we genuflect intentionally (something to teach children), and also when we leave. Thirdly, focus on what we want to offer God. Begin with an Act of Contrition. When we understand that Jesus is really and truly present in the Tabernacle, we conduct ourselves in the best possible manner. Our faith in the Real Presence of Jesus determines our every behaviour.
When we come to Mass, we come to a SACRIFICE! We are invited to be with the Lord at CALVARY. Who are we?? Jesus calls us to participate in His sacrifice, to accompany Him, to be His disciples, to offer ourselves – (all that we are) – with Him just as Jesus offers Himself to the Father. This is what happens at Mass. It is not a service. It is a SACRIFICE. As we stand at Calvary with Jesus, we must understand the gravity of where we are invited to be. We must allow our hearts to overflow with gratitude, profound homage and reverence to God.
When we receive Communion we receive Christ Himself. We receive the Body-Blood-Soul and Divinity of Jesus sacramentally present under the signs of Bread & Wine. We have to worthily receive Holy Communion. There is no greater death to the Soul or death to the Body of Christ than an unworthy communion. We fail to understand that a willful absence from Sunday Mass – a day of obligation – is a Grave Sin. To receive communion unworthily as St. Paul tells us, is “to eat and drink condemnation upon yourself and weaken the Body of Christ”.
The Eucharistic Bread, hailed as the Bread of Life and the Bread of Angels is preserved in the Tabernacles of the Church, so the Lord continues to dwell among us and be available to us. The Eucharistic Bread is the true and everlasting presence of God. God is with us. He dwells with His people. The Lord is truly present, Body Blood, Soul and Divinity among His people. He chooses to dwell so that we might know His Presence and be awed; receive His Grace and carry His Grace in the midst of a fallen world.
Therefore, when we walk into the Church, we conduct ourselves differently. We are in the Throne – Room of our King. We show reverence, homage, honour when we approach Him. A sanctuary Red Light is always burning at the Tabernacle. Before Mass, after Mass, when the liturgy is not going on, if we walk past the Tabernacle, the Red Light tells us TO STOP and genuflect. If our knee cannot touch the floor, we can do deep bow at the waist. We are adoring the person of Jesus, the Living God who is present Body Blood Soul and Divinity in the Blessed Sacrament. External signs help our interior disposition.
Finally if Divine Life is to be lived, it needs nourishment, that is, the Eucharist. It is the greatest of all the sacraments because it contains Jesus, the Author of Life. If we truly grasped what is occurring in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist almost all our problems would be resolved. If we really, really know what is happening at Mass, what we are witnessing in the Most Sacred Moment on the earth, we would not be lost in the things of the world. Our lives would be entirely consumed by the Holy Eucharist.
Let us make a prayer from the depth of our heart, asking our Lord Jesus, to awaken our mind and open our eyes of Faith to His Real Presence in Holy communion, that He may be daily nourishment to our soul, and more, be the Lord of our life.
J. Rodrigues