On this Friday in the third week of Easter, we hear from 6th chapter of John’s Gospel, in which Jesus explains to us how he is truly present in us in his body and his blood in the Eucharist we share. It seems so long ago, but back in 2011 when I was serving as the pastor of St Mary’s in Yazoo City, we started our diocesan celebration of the Year of the Eucharist the real presence of Christ that we have in our Church. The word “Eucharist” comes from the Greek word for “thanksgiving,” for each time we celebrate the Eucharist, each time we receive Christ’s Body and Blood as nourishment for us, we are to give thanks for this freely given gift from God. At our Eucharistic celebrations here in Clinton, we see people from different walks of life and different backgrounds. The Body and Blood of Christ unites us as we ourselves become his Body here on earth.
I was read a reflection from a Catholic priest up in New English, in which he describes the Eucharist as a narrative that gathers, heals, restores, teaches, nourishes, blesses and sends us forth as God's people, strengthened for the work God gives us to do on our journey. He describes the Eucharist as the heart of the faith community, giving us life and energy that is essential for us. He describes the Eucharist as our home, the place where we the return again and again, especially when were are unfaithful. I would agree with all of those descriptions. The Body and Blood of Christ we receive in the Eucharist should be at the heart of who we are as Catholics.
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