In the Eucharist we FEED on Jesus’s Flesh and Blood

1. The Eucharist at the Core of our Faith
2. Come to the Table
3. Thank the Lord for the Eucharist 

Introduction
1. The Eucharist at the Core of our Faith
We know that the very core of our faith is that Jesus’ body was broken for us on the cross, that he shed his blood for us, but that he rose again from the dead and is alive. The deepest way for us to share in his death and resurrection is the Mass, the Eucharist we celebrate. There the body of Christ is given to us as our food; there his blood is made present as shed to forgive our sins and to fill us with Jesus’ life and strength and joy. Let us celebrate this Eucharist with gratitude, for here the Lord gives himself totally to us.

2. Come, the Table Is Ready
“Come, the table is ready!” In our homes this is the invitation that brings us together as a family to share our food and our love. “Come, the table is ready!” is Jesus’ invitation to us in the Eucharist. He takes our human bread and makes it into the sign of the giving of himself: “Take this, all of you, and eat it: This is my body, this is I myself giving myself for you.” Let us sit at the table of the Lord and break his bread, and learn from him to become each other’s food and drink of life and joy.

3. Thank the Lord for the Eucharist
How fortunate we are that we have the Eucharist! Here is Jesus assuring us: I am with you and live among you, and give you not just any gift but myself to eat on the journey of life. Eat my bread of life and drink my wine of joy. This is I who give myself for you. In this way he also makes us capable of giving ourselves to God and to one another. Let this be a celebration of thanksgiving with the Lord among us.

1 Reading Proverbs 9:1-6
Wisdom has built her house,
she has set up her seven columns;
she has dressed her meat, mixed her wine,
yes, she has spread her table.
She has sent out her maidens; she calls
from the heights out over the city:
“Let whoever is simple turn in here;
To the one who lacks understanding, she says,
Come, eat of my food,
and drink of the wine I have mixed!
Forsake foolishness that you may live;
advance in the way of understanding.”

Responsorial Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Second Reading: Praising the Father through Christ
Christians learn the true wisdom of life from the Holy Spirit. In the liturgical assembly they sing out their thanks to the Father through Christ.

2 Reading Ephesians 5:15-20
Brothers and sisters:
Watch carefully how you live,
not as foolish persons but as wise,
making the most of the opportunity,
because the days are evil.
Therefore, do not continue in ignorance,
but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.
And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery,
but be filled with the Spirit,
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,
giving thanks always and for everything
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

Alleluia John 6:56
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Sharing Jesus’ Life through the Eucharist
By eating the Lord’s body and drinking his blood, we share in Jesus’ life and we are sure he will raise us from the dead on the last day.

Gospel John 6:51-58
Jesus said to the crowds:
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my flesh for the life of the world.”

The Jews quarrelled among themselves, saying,
“How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
Jesus said to them,
“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.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
has eternal life,
and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food,
and my blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me and I in him.
Just as the living Father sent me
and I have life because of the Father,
so also the one who feeds on me
will have life because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,
whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

Commentary
The Eucharist is, among other things, a community celebration. What brings people close together and gives them joy in being part of one another’s lives? Wealth? Hardly. Wealth tends to separate people, makes them independent of one another, even within a family. In very wealthy families, everyone has his or her own room, and there are several T.V. sets in the house, so that each individual can watch the program he or she prefers. But the poor have to throw in their lot with one another. I was once with a group of teenagers, one of whom was complaining bitterly that her parents were forever nagging her about being home before 11 pm, when suddenly another girl burst into tears. Her family, she said, were very wealthy; they all lived independent lives, and nobody cared at what time she came home! This had a dramatic effect on the first girl! Sometimes poverty is wealth! At the Eucharist a miracle happens. God is present in our simple presence to one another – a kind of presence that only the poor in spirit can know.

However, only in Christianity is God eaten as meal. Jesus is our Victim. In other faiths, the gods prey on the worshippers. Celebrate this feast every day when opportune.

Blessing
We experience day after day
that it is not easy to live the Lord’s Gospel.
It is not easy to live a life that is worthwhile,
to be unselfish, compassionate,
to love and help one another
even when it is uncomfortable,
to lead a life of integrity,
to build a better world together.
It is true wisdom that prompts us
to come to the Lord’s table
to seek his strength.
May the Lord accompany us
on the road of life and love
and may God bless you all:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.

Let us go with the Lord on the road
to God and to one another.
R/ Thanks be to God.