News Category: Eucharistic Reflections

Eucharistic Reflections

“Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of his Death
and Resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the Bread of life and the Chalice of salvation, giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you.

Humbly we pray that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.”

This part of the Eucharistic prayer caught my attention the other Saturday evening at Mass. I need to pray with these verses more to see what they are fully saying to me.

I was struck especially by the phrases, “to be in your presence and minister to you” and “we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.”
How do I minister to Christ? Being gathered into one takes me back to all of us being the Body of Christ.

So, I minister to Christ when I minister to others?
When and how do I minister to others? Am I aware of when others are in need? Do I minister joyfully, impatiently, compassionately, distractedly?
Just thinking…and praying. ~Sharon

Eucharistic Reflections

“This is my body given for you.” (Luke22:19) …Awesome God
People reaching for God and God reaching for people.
We can’t get there on our own.

Does the Eucharistic Prayer ever seem to hold a different meaning? When does it seem to have more meaning than on a regular Sunday?

As you know, we recently had three funerals. At these funeral Masses, as I listened to the Eucharistic Prayer, I found it held a slightly different meaning for me. It was more personal as I put the life of Joe, Bob, and Bob into the prayer. Jesus’ love and sacrifice for them. The three of them now as part of the Communion of Saints. Their lives with their families and community and now in heaven.

This reminds me that the Eucharistic Prayer is not a static prayer. It is not just one of those prayers that we keep hearing at every Mass. It is a prayer that can be alive for me. How about you? ~Sharon

Eucharistic Reflections

“This is my body given for you.” (Luke 22:19) …Awesome God

People reaching for God and God reaching for people. We can’t get there on our own. Sit with your eyes closed. Think of the Eucharistic prayer. What is the first thing that comes to mind?

For me, it is “so that they may become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.” And, “Do this in memory of me.” The “epiclesis” and “transubstantiation.” For me, the power of the God at work through the Holy Spirit and Jesus to nourish me.

In this part of the prayer, I am called to remember Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. How would I understand this moment if I put myself into that occasion of the last supper? How would I feel? How would I be changed when I left the meal?