What’s the best nourishment for gaining eternal life?

With their garden betrayal, Adam and Eve sent this resounding message to God their creator, “You are not enough.”  Later Jesus, the incarnate son of God became man. Taking bread at his last supper, Jesus responded to Adam and Eve. “Take this bread and eat of it.” Continuing he added, “This is my body. Do this in memory of me.”

 At this moment, Jesus, the true nourishment for eternal life, became the nurturing way, the truth, and the life for eternal life. While God’s word is food, Jesus’ words gave this food profound assurance that it is the true nourishment to gain eternal life.

 When believers receive Eucharist, they know they are heading for their correct destiny. The feast of the Body and Blood of Christ proclaims clearly for all Jesus’ followers that the true way to heaven is through nourishment from Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.

 This truth begins at a child’s first communion and continues as often as the child receives Eucharist throughout his or her journey. It concludes with his or her final Eucharist which may be intermingled with the prayers of the anointing of the sick.

 This is the same for believers everywhere. The identical incarnate son of God is received by all believers on every continent using the same words to proclaim God’s presence, “The Body of Christ,” and with bowed heads every recipient answers, “Amen.”

 It doesn’t matter where we live, or in what language Eucharist comes, Jesus’ body and blood makes sisters and brothers of us all. The place may be a peace-filled monastery or a war-torn country. Each receives the same loving and compassionate prince of peace, the same son of God, and the same savior of the world, our Incarnate God.

 Worshippers kneeling before the altar gaze upon the bread and wine which is the offering. This reminds believers of the heavy price Jesus paid for their salvation. Although a Eucharistic banquet is set before them, so is its astonishing cost.

 After these words “Behold the lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world, blessed are those called to the supper of the lamb.”  Comes the spoken assent, “Amen.” Our reception reminds us to accept sacrifice and suffering as a part of living as Jesus did.

 Judy, a tenth grader, asked her religion teacher, “At Mass, when Father holds up the Eucharist and says ‘do this in memory of me,’ what is this he means?” The teacher replied, “He means what we are doing right now. It can be a joyous event or a difficult moment, but we do it because it is what life is asking us to do right now.”

 She continued, “Jesus did what was asked of him, and he will help us do what is asked of us. That’s why we receive Eucharist, to be like Jesus.”

That says it all for every follower of Jesus! To all this we say a resounding “Amen!”