For some people, going to Mass can seem like a “Catholic workout” of genuflect-stand-sit-kneel…repeat, repeat. Yet these postures all have a crucial part to play in our prayer as they form our faith. In this third of six presentations on the Eucharist, we discover how different postures enhance the depth and power of the sacraments.
In this second of six presentations we hear about some of the key elements that have been a part of the Mass from the very beginning of the Church, in particular the reading of Sacred Scripture and the elements of bread and wine that become the Body and Blood of Christ.
In this first of six presentations we explore how the Lord Jesus defines the Eucharist as his Body and Blood and commands his disciples to receive it. May we renew our commitment to Christ and draw near to the altar to receive this awesome sacrament.
As we continue to hear the “Bread of Life” discourse from the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, we reflect on how our spiritual health is renewed by the frequent and worthy reception of Holy Communion. We are what we eat!
In the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel Jesus says that he is the Bread of Life, and as we hear these words in the context of the New Testament and the early Church we come to the awareness that this bread – our reception of Holy Communion at Mass – is the Real Presence of Jesus Christ!
Today’s reading from Exodus reveals how the Lord directed the Passover Meal to Moses and Aaron. This passage thus establishes the Passover as a central part of Jewish prayer which will ultimately set the context for the Eucharist. It was during a Passover Meal with his disciples that Jesus offers the New Covenant through his Body and Blood…which frees us from the bondage of sin and leads us to eternal life.
At every Mass the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, what we call the Real Presence. In his teaching to the disciples, the Lord defines and commands us to receive him in Holy Communion. In light of the past year with the pandemic, we have discovered just how crucial it is for us to carry out this command of Christ.
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
