On this day when we celebrate the awesome gift of the Eucharist one would think that the Gospel of this wonderful feast day would be about “the Last Supper,” but instead, it is the Gospel of the feeding of the 5000. When the disciples come to Jesus and complain that the people are hungry, Jesus says in response “give them some food yourselves”! The story of the “feeding of the five thousand” is about Jesus’ acknowledgement of human hunger…hunger for food… hunger for justice…hunger for God! As we celebrate the gift of Jesus giving himself to us in the Eucharist let us take seriously his command to “do this in memory of me."
Of course the question is: What is the “this”? For sure it is the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup. But is it more? Perhaps the “this” of “do this in memory of me” includes all that Jesus had done and what he was about to do, the next day! As Roman Catholics we believe that the bread and wine become the real body and blood of Jesus Christ poured out for the life of the world. And that when we receive the real presence of Christ we are changed, transformed more and more into the Body of Christ. This transformation, though, is not just for our sake but for the sake of the world. We are called to take the real presence of Christ out into the world and feed all those who hunger….those who hunger for food…those who hunger for justice…those who hunger for peace… those who hunger for God!
How do I fulfill Jesus’ command to feed those who hunger for food…for justice…for peace…for God? How do I share the “real presence” within me with others? How does participating in the Eucharist affect the way I live my life?
Blessings,
Fr Tim
Of course the question is: What is the “this”? For sure it is the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup. But is it more? Perhaps the “this” of “do this in memory of me” includes all that Jesus had done and what he was about to do, the next day! As Roman Catholics we believe that the bread and wine become the real body and blood of Jesus Christ poured out for the life of the world. And that when we receive the real presence of Christ we are changed, transformed more and more into the Body of Christ. This transformation, though, is not just for our sake but for the sake of the world. We are called to take the real presence of Christ out into the world and feed all those who hunger….those who hunger for food…those who hunger for justice…those who hunger for peace… those who hunger for God!
How do I fulfill Jesus’ command to feed those who hunger for food…for justice…for peace…for God? How do I share the “real presence” within me with others? How does participating in the Eucharist affect the way I live my life?
Blessings,
Fr Tim
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