A seraph touched Isaiah's lips with a hot ember from the heavenly altar (Is 6:6). The seraph said: "Now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged" (Is 6:7). Something from heaven touched Isaiah's lips, and his lips were then opened to speak the prophetic word of God.

How blessed we are, for something sent from heaven touches our lips also — the Eucharist, the body of Christ (Jn 6:32-33; Catechism, 1402). Like Isaiah's ember, the Eucharist touches our lips, removes our wickedness, and purges our sin. Jesus indicated this sin-purging capability, telling us, "This is My blood, the blood of the covenant, to be poured out in behalf of many for the forgiveness of sin" (Mt 26:28; see also Catechism, 1846).

The Church teaches: "The Eucharist cannot unite us to Christ without at the same time cleansing us from past sins and preserving us from future sins" (Catechism, 1393), especially "from future mortal sins" (Catechism, 1395). "As bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens our charity, which tends to be weakened in daily life; and this living charity wipes away venial sins" (Catechism, 1394). However, "the Eucharist is not ordered to the forgiveness of mortal sins — that is proper to the sacrament of Reconciliation" (Catechism, 1395).

How could anyone not want to receive the Eucharist frequently, daily if possible? Let Jesus touch your lips and life.

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 4, 2008

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