FAITH MATTERS

Advent is a special time to prepare our hearts to welcome Christ into our lives, and we do this in a very special way at every Mass. Last week we started some reflections therefore on how to prepare ourselves to welcome Christ in the Eucharist. The first step was simply turning up. Every time we do that we are acting out Jesus’ invitation to “Do this in memory of me.” The second step is to deepen our understanding of what the ‘this’ actually means. What are we doing when we celebrate the Eucharist? 

Let’s go back to the start. On the night before he died, Jesus gathered his apostles around him in a secret room. Soon he would go to his Cross, in obedience to the Father’s plan. There he would offer himself for our sakes, so that we may be saved. In preparation, he gave his disciples a sign. He took some bread, blessed and broke it, and handed it to his disciples, saying “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body, which will be given up for you.” And in the same way he took the cup and said, “This is my Blood, which will be poured out for you and for many.” Without yet understanding, they took the gifts and shared in them. 

Soon after, he was betrayed. He was put on trial and condemned to be crucified. There, on the Cross, he gave up his Body for our sakes. There, on the Cross, his Blood was poured out for us. There, on the Cross, he offered up his whole life as a loving sacrifice. His disciples witnessed all of this. At first, it seemed a disaster to them. The one they loved had been taken from them. The one they hoped in had been abandoned by God. They laid him in a tomb and hid themselves away. 

On the third day, the first day of the week, some of the women went to his tomb to finish anointing his body. But it wasn’t there. Angels appeared to tell them he was risen. They were dumfounded. They ran to tell the others, still gathered in that same room. Meanwhile, some of his followers left Jerusalem in despair. Jesus began to walk alongside them, but at first they were prevented from recognising him. He asked them why they were so sad. They explained what they had seen and how their hopes had been dashed. Jesus then began to break open the Scriptures to them, explaining how it was all in accordance with the Father’s plan. As they reached where they were going, they invited him to eat with them. Sitting down, he took some bread, blessed and broke it… and their eyes were finally opened. They recognised Jesus in the breaking of the bread, but as soon as they did, he was taken again from their sight.

There is a lot going on in all of that, but for now let’s just focus on this; the Easter story begins and ends with the Eucharist. That is no accident. The sign of the bread and wine is the special key with which we can open up the Easter Mystery. It not only helps us makes sense of what happened on the Cross, it is also the special means by which we can take our part in Jesus’ sacrifice. Whenever we celebrate the Eucharist, the Holy Spirit bridges all distances of time and space, and our prayers are united with his prayer to the Father on the Cross. Whenever we break the bread, he stands among us again, victorious over death, and we stand alongside him, full of hope, that we too will share in that same victory. What we see and taste are humble signs, the stuff of everyday. But with the eyes of faith, we recognise Christ sharing his life with us, and we sharing ours with him. There can be no better gift.