As we continue to reflect upon the Eucharistic Revival that the Catholic Church in the United States is undertaking, we are constantly drawn to the fundamental truth of the Eucharist. It is our Catholic faith, handed down to us from Holy Thursday night and the Last Supper, that at Christ’s command and through the words of the priest acting in the person of Christ, the bread truly becomes the Body of Christ, and the wine at Mass becomes His blood.

 

This reality is both a mystery beyond our human capacity to understand it fully, as well as a gift. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). The Eucharist is the presence of Jesus among us. It is part of the ongoing fulfilment of the Father’s gift to us of His only Son.

 

Each of us is called to believe the words of Jesus, “This is my body … This is my blood.” Believing, we are called to approach this mystery. Jesus desires that each of us should join the heavenly banquet by worthily receiving Him. “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” (Jn 6: 53-54).

 

There are many implications for our faith flowing from the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. In receiving the Eucharist we are made one in the Body of Christ, the Church. We are joined to other believers who have also received the Eucharist.

 

We are, however, also joined more deeply to the rest of creation and the human race. In being joined to Christ we are joined also to all that He has made and loves.

 

This leads to the realization that the Eucharist places upon us what Pope St. John Paul II referred to as “a project of solidarity.” He described this project as having two dimensions. First, because of the solidarity signified by our reception of the Eucharist, we are to promote peace and solidarity on a wide scale in our sin-damaged world. In this way, the Church, through the faithful, promotes peace and the common good according to the mind of God in social, cultural and political life. (Mane Nobiscum Domine, 27).

 

More locally, the Eucharist should lead us to what Pope St. John Paul II called “a practical commitment to building a more just and fraternal society.” He urged that moved by Eucharistic faith, dioceses and parishes should address problems close at hand such as hunger, the isolation of the elderly, the consequences of unemployment and the struggles of immigrants. (Ibid, 28).

 

Last month, Pope Francis made the very same point. When he met with the organizers of the Eucharistic Revival, after stressing the reality of the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and the great value of Eucharistic adoration, he touched upon the obligation of mission that flows from the Eucharist.

 

“The Eucharist … impels us to a strong and committed love of neighbor. For we cannot truly understand or live the meaning of the Eucharist if our hearts are closed to our brothers and sisters, especially those who are poor, suffering, weary or who may have gone astray in life. Two groups of people come to mind whom we must always seek out: the elderly, who are the wisdom of a people, and the sick, who are the image of the suffering Jesus.”

 

Faith in the True Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Love for creation, and solidarity with those most in need. These are deep and necessary goals of our Eucharistic Revival.