Every time we receive our Lord in the Eucharist we are reminded that Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice to our Lord and Father, so that we might experience the joy of Heaven. We can tend to take this sacrifice lightly as we fall into a rhythm and routine in our weekly trips to Mass. But, what a great and beautiful gift we miss out on in not fully experiencing this mystery.
Every time I pray the sorrowful mysteries I am humbled by the sacrifices our Lord made for us. To meditate on those mysteries: the agony in the garden, the scourging at the pillar, the crowning with thorns, the carrying of the cross, and the crucifixion is quite humbling. There is no pain, no judgment, no struggle, and no burden that our Lord has not already carried and conquered. Those punishments that were meant for me, because of my own sin and shortcomings, were bore by the spotless lamb that took my place. What a humbling thought.
Scott Hahn says it so well in stating that “the foundation of the Catholic’s life must be the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. We can’t make it on our own. Christ knew that; that’s why he instituted the sacraments-to give us his own divine life and power” (Hahn & Hahn, 1993, p. 178). We could not bear all that He had to bear, and He knew that. We have been blessed by a gift that we am so unworthy of. All He asks is that we come to Him with grateful hearts and with servant hearts.
When we come to see the amazing gift that is given to us in the Eucharist, it is no wonder we long to be with our Lord more and more. Let us properly prepare a worthy temple for our Lord. Let us welcome in the food and drink that He has provided for us as nourishment for our souls. He has given us all the nourishment we need for the journey, all we must do is humbly kneel before Him and welcome Him in.
Before we race out the door after receiving our Lord in the Holy Eucharist, let us remember the beauty and the sacrifice that is contained in the Body and the Blood of Christ. No commitments we have after Mass can trump the obligation we have to stop, to pay Jesus reverence, and to thank Him for His sacrifice. Just as we teach our children to say thank you at the dinner table, and to say thank you for gifts they receive, we must teach them to say thank you for the gift of eternal life. We teach them this by giving them an example to follow. As our children watch our every move, let them see our gratitude for the amazing blessing that is bestowed on us every time we receive our Lord in the Eucharist.
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