i believe in the great mystery
"Let Me solemnly assure you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you." —John 6:53
When we receive Holy Communion, we eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus. This is a great mystery. Like the Jews of Jesus' day, we cannot understand how He can "give us His flesh to eat" (Jn 6:52). Nevertheless, we believe Jesus' revelation of the Eucharist because:
- The Lord has given us the gift of faith.
- It is clear that Jesus meant to be taken literally when He said: "This is My Body" and "This is My Blood" (Mt 26:26-28).
- Jesus is the Truth (Jn 14:6).
- Jesus is the all-powerful God, as evidenced by His Resurrection from the dead.
- The early Church Fathers clearly taught that we literally receive Jesus' Body and Blood in Holy Communion.
- The Church, which is "the pillar and bulwark of truth" (1 Tm 3:15), has clearly and universally taught that in Holy Communion we receive "the body and blood...soul and divinity" of Jesus (see Catechism, 1374).
Therefore, let us center our life on our eucharistic Lord. Let us live for Mass and eucharistic worship. Let us die for our eucharistic Lord, if we are so privileged. "Sweet Sacrament, we Thee adore. O make us love Thee more and more."
Prayer: Father, send the Holy Spirit to guide me to the truth of the Eucharist (see Jn 16:13).
Promise: "Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and his strength returned to him after he had taken food." —Acts 9:18-19
Praise: Jacob offers his suffering up to Jesus and he feels blessed peace.
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 12, 2017
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