Dear Friends,

In the sixth chapter of John's Gospel, Jesus said, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; Whoever eats this bread will live forever; And the bread I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." And again He said ... "Amen, Amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him."(John 6:51,53-56)

In the world of Jesus, "flesh and blood," or "body and blood," was a way of speaking of the whole person. By these words, Jesus is telling His listeners and us too that He gives himself to us as true food and drink. As Catholics, we believe that the Eucharist is not just a symbol or mere remembrance of the bread Jesus broke with the apostles at the Last Supper.

After the Eucharistic Prayer of Consecration, Jesus becomes really and truly present in the substances of bread and wine, and therefore great reverence is required before, during, and after the Consecration and Communion and Mass ending. It is important that in every Mass we prepare ourselves and participate fully and make sure we are in a state of grace to receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. This same reverence is needed in every moment of Eucharistic adoration because the whole living Jesus is completely present(body, blood, soul, and divinity)in both the bread and wine. This means if you drink from the cup only and don't take the bread, as some do who are allergic to wheat, for example, or you receive bread only, you're receiving the whole person, the full reality of Jesus within you.

In our own time, there are many Christian denominations that don't believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. They find that too difficult to accept. And we have to admit: it's almost too good to be true, isn't it? That we should have regular access to Jesus through something as unglamorous and ordinary as food.

But this is telling us something very important. We know that food and drink are necessary for life and nourishment. If we stop eating and drinking, we'll die within a short time. By coming as food, Jesus is saying-in effect: "Let me nourish you. Let me give you life. Let me help you to grow to full stature as a Christian. You need me for that to happen. I want to be part of you and share your humanity with you. As intimately as food and drink are united with your body, so would I be united with you." This is the understanding of Eucharist that has been central to our Catholic faith and practice since the very beginning.

St. Augustine in the 4th Century A.D. said, "You become the Body of Christ by properly receiving Christ who comes in the disguise of bread and wine." This early understanding and reverence of the Holy Eucharist, be it at Mass or during a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, or in our Perpetual Adoration chapel, needs maximum clarity and intentional solemn reverence. It is respectful to remain quiet, prayerful, and avoid discussions or use of phones during these Holy moments of encounter with Jesus, and, as much as possible, avoid eating snacks or drinking beverages in Church during Eucharistic celebrations and adoration. Lifting kneelers and other objects must be done with minimal or no noise at all.

Jesus risks a lot by coming to us as food and drink. Because people don't always appreciate what they're being served. They prefer something else. Some refuse to eat. Or they eat very irregularly. But Jesus takes the risk. And whenever anyone receives the Eucharist properly disposed, we take into our own bodies the risen, glorified body of Jesus. In a sense, this becomes another Incarnation. God once again takes human flesh. And, this time, WE become his indwelling! Who wouldn't want that? Be Eucharistic, and may Jesus dwell in you, bless you, heal you, and transform you.

Jesus, I trust in you!

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