On the night before Our Saviour Jesus died for our redemption, He celebrated a special meal with His apostles and then Jesus instructed them to: “Do this in memory of me.”

“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:26-28 … “Do this in memory of me.” Luke 22:19

Jesus told His disciples, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6:51

When we come to the Lord’s Table in the Mass, we are receiving the living God, Jesus Christ, veiled in a little piece of bread. Like the first apostles we are invited as the friends and followers of Jesus to participate in this sacred meal. Yet let us ask ourselves as we come to the Lord’s Table are we truly His friends? 

Jesus said, “You are my friends, if you do what I command you” (John 15: 14)

Yet “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us”. (I John 1:8)

So let us repent of our sins before each Holy Communion so we can come to the Lord’s table as His friends. Let’s ask for God’s forgiveness and avail ourselves of the Sacrament of Confession as frequently as necessary.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Some people feel uncomfortable confessing their sins to a priest and I will admit that I too would feel more comfortable just whispering my confession to Jesus but I do go to Confession in the Church because I understand the biblical foundation of this Sacrament.

Jesus told His apostles, “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” John 20:23 From this Scripture, I feel we can discern that our priests continue to have the authority in God’s name to absolve us through the Sacrament of Confession.  This Sacrament is not affected by the state of grace of the priest, remember absolution is from Jesus Himself.

At the last supper, Jesus did something else that we need to reflect upon.  He bowed down and washed the feet of each apostle so that we would understand His will that we serve one another. Let us ask ourselves as we come to receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus, if we are truly following His example.

Do we need to do more to serve others?   Could we be praying more for one another? Could we be making more sacrifices to give God glory? Do we invest enough time reading the Bible and listening to God’s voice speak to our souls? Do we offer our sufferings to God? Are we doing any works of charity, volunteering our time to good causes?  Have we forgiven and prayed for those who have hurt us?

Is the Mass a Sacred Experience for you?

I know all Christians do not receive the Holy Eucharist and I don’t understand why because the foundation for this Sacrament is biblical.

After Jesus ascended into heaven “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42

The apostles were following the Lord’s instructions by celebrating the Eucharist, i.e. “breaking of bread”.  Jesus said to them “For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.” John 6:55-56

St. Paul warned the people to receive the Holy Eucharist with reverence and understanding: “For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.” 1 Corinthians 11:29

If the Mass is not a sacred experience for you, it’s possible that you do not truly understand that a miracle is occurring at each and every Mass! Our Saviour Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is giving us His Body and Blood sacramentally through the Holy Eucharist in each celebration of the Mass.

As I receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist I am mindful of the great price Jesus paid to give us His Body and Blood. I try to contemplate our Lord’s Passion during each Mass. I remember during the consecration of the bread, Our Lord Jesus being crucified for our salvation and often this brings tears to my eyes. Perhaps members of my Church think “that lady must have a lot of sins because I keep seeing tears in her eyes.” My tears are for Jesus who suffered so much for our salvation and indeed I do regret and grieve my sins and the sins of all humanity. What a brutal price Our Holy Lord had to pay to save us!  How I wish there could have been a nonviolent way to redeem the world!

I met a little girl years ago who told me that every night before she goes to bed she thanks Jesus for dying for her.  I thought WOW! Let us never forget the Passion of Christ! I encourage you to meditate on Our Lord’s Passion each day so that your celebration of the Mass will include your own solemn contemplation of the great suffering of Jesus on Calvary.

Remember when the Priest says: “The Body of Christ” and we reply “Amen”, we are acknowledging that “truly we believe!” that Jesus is present in this spiritual food we are receiving. The Eucharist is the summit of our spiritual existence for in this Sacrament we commune with God Himself.

So as we come to the Lord’s Table, let us remember to receive Jesus with the awe and reverence, thanksgiving and honor that our God Jesus so deserves!

How would you feel if you were approaching God face-to-face?

Now that I am truly mindful of receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, I find I am always a little nervous as I walk up the aisle to receive my Bridegroom…I am not nervous out of fear, just out of awe. There He is the Almighty, infinite in power who makes Himself so small so He can commune with His Bride. I love You Jesus in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar! I need You so much!

Please join The Mercy Movement that stops to pray for all souls as we remember the Passion of Christ each day at 3pm in our local time zones, for 3pm is the time Jesus died for us.  Let us never let 3pm go by without remembering Our Holy Lord dying for us!  How much Jesus loves you!