The Great Banquet

Grab

When was the last time you went to a feast or an eat-all-you-can restaurant?

Grace

Read Luke 24: 13-35 

April is declared as the month of the Holy Eucharist. This tradition has developed because Easter Sunday often falls in April. As we continue this season, may we know more about the beauty of the Eucharist. 

Reflecting on the Gospel of Luke, Jerusalem is 7 miles away from Emmaus. A long journey such as this would make us physically hungry. Nowadays, a roadtrip with the family calls for a drive-thru or dine-in at our favorite fast-food restaurant. However, it was different for the case of the 2 disciples. They dined with the Lord and witnessed His presence through the breaking of the bread (cf. Luke 24: 30). The Eucharist is not just a simple ritual or an obligation, rather it is the summit of our faith, because Christ himself is ever-present in this Sacrament.

Here are some ways to grow in love with the Eucharist:

1. Appreciate the Eucharistic Celebration.

The Holy Mass is not just a symbol of the body and blood of Christ- it is Jesus himself. Appreciating it leads us to have a greater reverence for this Eucharistic celebration. It is simply no ordinary meal. Hence, a meal that prefigures the eternal banquet in heaven.

2. Acknowledge God’s presence in the Communion.

A person who is to receive the Holy Eucharist is to abstain for at least one hour before holy communion from any food and drink. (Canon 919) Through fasting, we are reminded that we are made for heavenly nourishment.

3. Active Participation. 

The celebration of the holy sacrifice of the Mass is not a reenactment of the sacrifice of the cross, but rather it “makes present the one sacrifice of Christ.” (CCC 1330). As a respect, let us be physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually present during Mass.

Christ is alive in the Holy Eucharist. As the two disciples were journeying, they recognized Jesus in their fellowship with him. The breaking of the bread reveals the meaning of the Eucharist. And this celebration is more than just a gathering, it is a heavenly feast that reveals that our spiritual hunger and thirst can only be satisfied by Jesus. In his very own words, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst” (John 6:35). 

Gather

How can you grow more in love with the Holy Eucharist? 

Go Forth

Celebrate the Holy Mass with your whole family.

Give

God is Generous and in response, let us be good stewards by consistent Spiritual Giving, our tithing. 

For Tithes Remittance of NCR Members: bit.ly/mfctithes