The Sacrament of the Eucharist

Today, as we begin Renewed again, we’re journeying through the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and we begin with the third of our Sacraments of Initiation, Baptism, Confirmation, and now the Eucharist. The Eucharist, in each of the sacraments, we’re recalling how the invisible God, how the God who was so other to us, becomes close to us and becomes visible to us through word and through sign.

In the Eucharist, the two signs that we have are bread and wine consecrated to become the Body and Blood of Christ, as Jesus says in the Last Supper. Take this and eat of it. Take this and drink of it. For this is my body, and this is my blood. And with each sacrament, we recall that the promise made in the sacrament is fulfilled, that we indeed do consume the Body and Blood of Christ.

The teaching of the Church is that in each particle of the Eucharist, we are receiving indeed the fullness of Christ’s humanity and divinity, body and soul. That we experience the entire of the risen Christ through this special sacrament.

The Eucharist we describe in the Second Vatican Council and the document on the Sacred Liturgy are described in this way as the font and summit of our life. It is the place from which we go out to the world. It is the place where we return to be fed and nourished. So, as Christians and as Catholics, receiving the Eucharist is the manner in which we are nourished to be Christians in the world, doing the work of Christ. In order to do that, we have to think about the effects of the Eucharist.

The number one effect of the Eucharist is a deeper union with Christ when we receive that Body and Blood, it is not as if Christ becomes a part of us, we are more deeply incorporated into Christ. It’s the only food that works, as it were, in reverse. We become what the food is, as Saint Augustine says. It also unites us more deeply with our brothers and sisters who are members of the Christian Faith. It commits us to the poor, and it is an anticipation of future glory, of the eternal banquet with Christ and all the saints.

So, as sisters and brothers, in this wonderful sacrament, we do become united with the presence of Christ. That’s why we use this expression of real presence. You may hear the language of Transubstantiation, its philosophical language from the 13th century that was used to express exactly how that transformation happens from bread and wine. We see the outward signs of bread and wine, but the substance is changed into the Body and Blood of Christ by the consecratory prayer of the priest at Mass.

That language is still very much used in the Church, but the way we can summarize it most easily is to say it is that real and particular and special. In fact, the most special presence of Christ that we can ever encounter in these earthly days. So, sisters and brothers, if we receive the Eucharist, we have the promise that Christ has for us.

Each reception of the Eucharist calls us to be renewed.

Reflection Questions:

1. How does receiving the Eucharist deepen your personal relationship with Christ?

2. In what ways does the Eucharist unite you with the Christian community and commit you to serving others?

3. How can you allow each reception of the Eucharist to bring spiritual renewal to your life?