- Dec 16, 2017
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This week and for the next few weeks, our gospel readings will focus on Jesus as the Bread of Life: His Eucharistic Presence. Sometimes our readings are centered on Jesus as a sower, others as the only Son of a vineyard owner, and yet others as a shepherd or a good Samaritan. These are all parables or sayings or ways of describing Him- but when Jesus says that he is the Bread of Life, he isn't only saying so as a means of revealing some fundamental truth about himself as the parables do. He's not telling us a story. Though the Jews recall the story of the Exodus and how their ancestors were given bread by God to eat (though they credited the miracle to Moses), Jesus reveals Himself to be the true Bread from Heaven. It's not just that God gives us the Bread of Life, but that He is the Bread of Life. It doesn't merely contain Him, but it is Him.
Jesus is both the Bread of Life and our Passover Lamb- in the evening twilight the Israelites would eat meat, but in the morning they were given bread- and how can we not see this reflected in the reality of the Eucharist, in light of the Passover? Our Pascal Lamb has become like bread for us, and is so offered in an unbloody manner- yet it truly is His Body and Blood all the same, even while veiled under the substances of bread and wine. And just as God unites all "those called to the Supper of the Lamb" to those moments on Calvary, re-presenting yet not repeating the one pure Sacrifice- so did He unite the Passover- and by extension, the Exodus and the manna- to the Mass.
This month gives us the opportunity to grow in appreciation for the gift of the Eucharist. In doing so, let's see if we can't help others discover the Real Presence and develop their own appreciation for the Blessed Sacrament.
Jesus is both the Bread of Life and our Passover Lamb- in the evening twilight the Israelites would eat meat, but in the morning they were given bread- and how can we not see this reflected in the reality of the Eucharist, in light of the Passover? Our Pascal Lamb has become like bread for us, and is so offered in an unbloody manner- yet it truly is His Body and Blood all the same, even while veiled under the substances of bread and wine. And just as God unites all "those called to the Supper of the Lamb" to those moments on Calvary, re-presenting yet not repeating the one pure Sacrifice- so did He unite the Passover- and by extension, the Exodus and the manna- to the Mass.
This month gives us the opportunity to grow in appreciation for the gift of the Eucharist. In doing so, let's see if we can't help others discover the Real Presence and develop their own appreciation for the Blessed Sacrament.
