Last week, remember, we read through the Lord’s conversation with Nicodemus in which Jesus speaks of supernatural birth for his followers, a second birth, in which we are born anew to the supernatural life of the Spirit.
This week, we’ve read through the Bread of Life discourse in which Jesus teaches us not of supernatural rebirth, but supernatural food—food that will sustain the life of the spirit.
This morning, our newly elected Pope, Leo XIV celebrated the Eucharist with his Cardinals because the Eucharist truly is the bread of life; the Eucharist produces life in us because the Eucharist IS Jesus Christ who is Our Life
The Eucharist sustains the supernatural life begun at baptism. When the body is deprived of food it languishes and dies; and it is the same with the soul, the Eucharist sustains supernatural life in us, as Jesus says, “unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you do not have life within you.”
The Eucharist is our pledge of eternal life and resurrection: He who receives Eucharist, Christ will “raise up on the last day”. St. Ignatius of Antioch said is “the food that makes us live forever in Jesus Christ”, it is the “remedy for our mortality”.
The Eucharist restores the soul which has become weakened by venial sin. St. Ambrose said Holy Communion “is a remedy for our daily infirmities”. The damage we do to our souls through venial sin is restored through Holy Communion.
The Eucharist strengthens us to give witness to Christ and persevere in faith. St. Cyprian, writing in the early third century, describes how Christians imprisoned for their faith, awaiting trial at which they would likely receive a death sentence, would plead for Holy Communion. “Give me Communion, so I’ll be able to resist.”
The Eucharist helps us to persevere in faith at the hour of our death. This is why the Eucharist is brought to the dying. “Whoever eats this bread will live forever”, what a powerful promise to recall as one lay dying.
And the Eucharist increases sanctifying grace in our souls: helping us to love with the heart of Christ, making our lives more pleasing to God.
Through the Eucharist, may the life of Christ in us continue to be sustained, nourished, strengthened, and increased for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
By offering His Body and Blood for us, Jesus reconciles the world to the Father. Therefore, we present our needs to God with confidence.
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For newly elected Pope Leo XIV that the Eucharist may sustain, nourish and protect him in his new ministry for which we pray to be filled with many blessings and the unending guidance of the Holy Spirit.
That Christians may always approach the Eucharist worthily, in full communion with the teachings and practices of the Church.
For Catholics who have fallen away from the Eucharist, that they may know the grace of sincere repentance and return to the table of the Lord.
That all God's children may have sufficient bread for their physical life and the Bread of Life for their spiritual life.
That those who have died may share the eternal life that Jesus promised to those who feed on the Bread from Heaven.
Gracious Father, hear our prayers. Nourish us continually with your Son’s presence in the Eucharist, and grant us the grace to lead others to this divine source of eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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