Jesus invites us to eat his flesh and his blood. Therefore, whenever we attend Eucharist, we
eat and drink. The great saint of the 4th century, St. Augustine, reflecting on this, is reported to have said in a sermon “One of the deep truths of the Christian faith: through our participation in the sacraments, we are transformed into the Body of Christ, given for the world.”
Our participation in Eucharist invites us to become like Christ to others. We embody Christ in the world through our sharing in the Eucharist. If we think about this carefully, it has profound implications for how we choose to live each day. We are to become the very One we
consume. We are invited to make the actions and attitudes of Jesus our own - to do and say what he does and says in concrete ways.
Too often, our temptation is to spiritualise Jesus and the Eucharist. We have to make this very practical and concrete if we are to wrestle with the implications of what receiving the Eucharist is for us today.
Some of these may be: How do I treat people who are different to me - whether that be racially/ethnically, geographically, or other genders? Do I treat each person with the same dignity and respect that Jesus does, no matter who they are? How do I resolve conflicts with others?
Am I humble enough to seek the way of dialogue and reconciliation, owning up to my part in the conflict and taking responsibility? Am I honest, and do I do my part in my work, or do I accept a wage knowing that I have not done what I am supposed to do? Finally, how do I consume resources? So often, people say that they worked hard for what they have, and this is true. But if we have more than we need, are we willing to help those who cannot make ends meet?
Take a few moments now to reflect on what strikes you about the implications of receiving the Eucharist. What might God be inviting you to consider as you reflect? You
might want to talk to the Lord about it now in your own words.
Reflections by Russell Pollitt SJ
