O God who in this wondrous Sacrament
have left us a memorial of Your Passion
Grant us we pray,
so to revere the sacred mysteries of Your body and Blood
that we may always experience in ourselves
the fruits of Your redemption.
In making this prayer tangible for during the week, the following reflections questions emerged.
1. What is my attitude towards receiving the body and blood of Christ?
2. Is it still a wondrous sacrament every time I receive Christ in the Eucharist?
3. What do you experience when you receive Christ in the Eucharist?
4. Why is the Eucharist a memorial of Christ's Passion?
5 What are the fruits of redemption in the Eucharist?
6. How will today's feast change me this coming week?
The Feast of the Body and blood of Christ is a wonderful feast as it focuses on the unique gift of Himself given for us in the Eucharist. On this wonderful feast we have a chance to renew our love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. As Catholics we believe that when we receive Holy Communion, Christ is truly present because of the words of consecration said by the priest at Mass although the appearance of the bread and wine remains. This is not something the Church implemented by itself for practical purposes. No, Jesus Himself in the Gospel tells us that He is offering Himself to us as ''real food and real drink''.
The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church no 292 when explaining what the fruits of Holy Communion tells us:
''Holy Communion increases our union with Christ and with his Church.
It preserves and renews the life of grace received at Baptism and Confirmation
and makes us grow in love for our neighbour.
It strengthens us in charity, wipes away venial sins and preserves us from mortal sin in the future.''
Jesus uses the ordinary items of bread and wine and makes them Himself. These ordinary items of bread and wine look the same but after the consecration have changed- but not just changed, changed into Jesus Himself. We know this to be called transubstantiation. By using ordinary items, they are available to us easily. Yet, we must never forget that after the consecration, they have been changed to Jesus Himself under the form of bread and wine. How truly awesome is that.
We can receive Holy Communion every day if we wish. Certainly we need to receive Jesus in this sacrament every Sunday at Mass. We may wish to ponder:
- What is my attitude to this sacrament?
- What difference does receiving Christ in the Eucharist make in my daily life?
- What hindrances do I experience which prevent me from entering into deeply this mystery?
Today in our parish, First Holy Communion is being celebrated. We see the young children at Mass with their families, all dressed up in their white dresses and the young boys looking more like young men in a special outfit. Some people wonder and perhaps even criticise the children in their white dresses highlighting the expense aspect. However, it seems to me that by preparing for First Holy Communion spiritually as well as their clothing, they have captured something of the importance of the Sacrament. It is definitely highlighted in their minds that this is an important day in their lives. May they continue on their journey of faith. Please pray for these children so that they will become strong in their faith and practise it daily.
You might like to reflect upon your own first Holy Communion. I remember my own vividly as mine was in a different country than my country of origin and therefore had different traditions. During the Communion Breakfast, I had my first cup of tea as well. I never had another cup of tea for another 20 years after that.!!!
May we, like them always consider receiving Christ in the Eucharist an ''event'' to be revered,
and benefit from the fruits of Christ's redemption.
I hope that you will be able to spend some extra time with Jesus
to reflect on this wonderful gift of Himself to each of us personally.
No comments:
Post a Comment