A reminder of our sustenance

The Gospel passages for August thus far, in this Ordinary Time of the liturgical cycle, have focused on the food for the journey. At the heart of Catholic doctrine lies the mystery of the Eucharist, often referred to as the “source and summit of the Christian life.”

This sacrament, instituted by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper, is central to Catholic worship and spirituality. It explains the reason there was a huge outcry across the Catholic Christian world over the skit at the opening ceremony of the recent Paris Olympics.

The Church’s teaching on the Eucharist as the bread of life finds its roots in Scripture, particularly in John 6.

Jesus declares in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” He further emphasises in verse 51, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

The Church interprets these words literally, teaching that in the Eucharist, the bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Christ. This doctrine, known as transubstantiation, is the cornerstone of Catholic faith.

The life-giving nature of the Eucharist can be heard in this Sunday’s gospel. “Jesus replied: ‘I tell you most solemnly, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you. … He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him.’”

The Eucharist is therefore both a sacrifice and a meal. It is the re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, made present on the altar, and a sacred banquet in which the faithful partake of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Pope Benedict XVI, in Sacramentum Caritatis said this regarding the transformative power of the Eucharist: “The substantial conversion of bread and wine into his body and blood introduces within creation the principle of a radical change… which penetrates to the heart of all being, a change meant to set off a process which transforms reality, a process leading ultimately to the transfiguration of the entire world.”

In our fast-paced, digitally driven world, the Eucharist remains an anchor for Catholics. In Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis states: “The Eucharist, although it is the fullness of sacramental life, is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.”

This perspective is relevant today where stress, anxiety, and disconnection are prevalent, sadly, especially among the young. The Eucharist offers a moment of peace and communion, not just with God, but with the community of believers. In an age of individualism, it reminds us of our interconnectedness and shared humanity.

The Eucharist presents a radical alternative in a world grappling with materialism and consumerism. It invites believers to find sustenance beyond material possessions, in a spiritual reality that transcends the visible.

As Pope Benedict XVI noted, “The Eucharist is the mystery of presence, the perfect fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to remain with us until the end of the world.”

The Eucharist also speaks to modern concerns about social justice and equality, symbolising the equality of all before God. It offers a counterpoint to the culture of instant gratification, teaching the value of patient waiting and gradual spiritual growth.

All this is something to contemplate as we leave our seats and queue to reverently receive Holy Communion, our bread for life.

Let’s never take it for granted.