The Holy Eucharist

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Friday of 3rd Week of Easter, May 6th, 2022

Texts: Acts 9:1-20; Psalm 117:1.2; John 6:52-59

Today’s gospel reading speaks of the Holy Eucharist. When we talk of the Holy Eucharist, we talk of the true body and blood of Christ under the appearances of bread and wine respectively. Jesus, in the gospel reading, tells us that the Holy Eucharist is the pledge of eternal life and resurrection. He says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” When we receive the Holy Eucharist, we already have assurance that eternal life is ours and that death is no longer our end, for we shall rise from the dead at the end of time. The Holy Eucharist becomes for us remedy for mortality and corruptibility.  

He also tells us that Holy Eucharist is also a means of union with Him. He puts it thus: “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” The Holy Eucharist unite us with Jesus Christ, it makes us His dwelling-place and one with him. Once we receive the Holy Eucharist, we become the carrier of Christ and He is to shine forth in us. The disciples that first received this message found it difficult to understand and it became an obstacle for them in their relationship with Jesus. They could not believe the words of Jesus. For us, we believe but could not act accordingly. Some of us receive the Holy Eucharist but have nothing to show for it; we receive it but do not allow it to shine forth in our lives. We are reminded once again to appreciate the gift of the Holy Eucharist to us and the world. We appreciate it by living what it means, charity. 

Jesus, in today’s first reading, said to Paul, “rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” Those words express what faith is. Faith is trusting in God’s word, not knowing what God is going to do. What God wanted to tell Him, he could not know. We are to trust in the words of Jesus who tells us that by the Holy Eucharist we have eternal life and will be raised up on the last day. 

May Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is still on; let us remember to pray our Rosary.  

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we who have come to know the grace of the Lord’s Resurrection, may through the love of the Spirit, ourselves rise to newness of life. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke