The Necessity Of The Eucharist

 

Jesus abides in us when He takes flesh in us.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Friday of 3rd Week of Easter, Year B, April 19th, 2024
Texts: Acts 9:1-20; Psalm 117:1-2; John 6:52-59 

Jesus Christ emphasises in today’s gospel the necessity of the Eucharist, the Sacrament of His body and blood. 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.” In this word He affirms the Eucharist as the source of life eternal and the pledge of participation in resurrection. 

Eucharist is not only source of eternal life and pledge of resurrection, it also unites us to Christ. This is clear in the word of Jesus: “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” This is being of one mind with Christ. Hence, the Eucharist is being of one mind with Christ. It is a submission to Christ and making His life manifesting in us. We abide in Christ when we submit to Him, thinking and living like Him. He abides in us when He takes flesh in us. 

An encounter with the risen Christ

Today’s first reading is about the encounter of Saul with our Lord Jesus Christ. It was an encounter with the risen Christ. This encounter transformed him to be of one mind with Christ. We read, “And in the synagogues immediately he proclaimed  Jesus, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’" Whoever has the same mind with Christ proclaims Him the Son of God. Being the Son of God whoever comes to Him lives because of Him; He has power to make us live.  

Prayer 

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  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke