Today’s feast celebrates the presence of Jesus in the mystery of the Eucharist, His presence among us under the appearance of bread and wine. How is it possible, nearly 2,000 years after His death, that He is with us in this way? How do we know it is Him?
When Jesus rose from the dead, He was the same as before, but different. He could still talk, eat, walk, teach and work miracles; but now He could appear to His disciples who were cowering in a locked room; now He would hand His mission on to them; now He would ascend to His Father, and give them His Holy Spirit. If we do not immediately recognize Him, we are in good company: Mary thought He was the gardener, early in the morning on the first day of the week; the disciples thought He was a ghost, until He ate a piece of grilled fish; the travellers on the road to Emmaus thought He was an ill-informed stranger. It is here in this last story that we have a clue as to how we will recognize Him. We study the prophecies about Him; we listen to His teachings about His death and resurrection; we ponder the Last Supper when He says, “this is my body†and “this is my bloodâ€; and we hear His words today in St. John’s Gospel where He tells us we are to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man – Himself.
Knowing He is so close to us in the Eucharist gives a focus to our lives that is both here and now and in the future; appearing as bread and wine, this is no ordinary bread and wine but the flesh and blood of the Lord, the risen Lord. This is for us comfort, consolation, hope of eternal life, a constant call to be united with each other, a challenge to be worthy of His presence, an invitation to share with others the news that He is very close. The God who saved the chosen people in the desert is still saving, through Jesus Christ His Son. The risen Lord who appeared to Saul and called Him to be an apostle is making Himself known to us in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, and inviting us to go out in His name. This memory we hold, we share and we celebrate – today, on this feast, and every time we gather around the altar in His name.