On this Friday in the third week of the Easter season, we celebrate the risen Lord in our Gospel reading from the 6th chapter of John, in which Jesus explains to us how he is truly present in us in his body and his blood in the Eucharist we share together in the breaking of the bread and in the sharing of the cup. I think of how in the summer of 2011 we started our diocesan celebration of the Year of the Eucharist, a celebration of the real presence of Christ that we have in our Church. In a few weeks, we celebrate First Holy Communion for a group of children in our parish who will be receiving Christ in the Eucharist for the first time in their lives. I know that it is a very exciting time for them and for their families.
The word “Eucharist” comes from the Greek word for “thanksgiving,” for each time we celebrate the Eucharist today, each time we receive the Body and Blood of Christ as nourishment for us, we give thanks for this freely given gift from God. As I look out at our masses here at St Jude and see people from many different walks of life and many different backgrounds, I think about this Body and Blood of Christ that unites us as we ourselves become his Body here on earth. As we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, it will continuously affect a change in us.
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