Receiving Christ, becoming Christ

Scripture for Mass

Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a

Psalm 147:12-13. 14-15. 19-20. Response: 12a

1 Corinthians 10:16-17

John 6:51-58

Sometimes we Catholics are so focussed on Christ becoming truly present – as distinct from symbolically present – in the transformation of the bread and wine into his Body and Blood during the act of consecration, that we miss out on other equally important and amazing aspects of the Mass.

At the Last Supper, when Jesus transformed the bread and wine into his Body and Blood, he offered us his entire self – not just his physical self, but also his heart and soul, his humanity and divinity, the sacrifice of his life and the power of his resurrection.

Therefore, when we follow Jesus’ command to eat his Body and drink his Blood, we receive Christ Jesus himself. And since, he is the fulness of life and love, in welcoming him, we receive an abundance of everything that our heart seeks, our body craves, and our soul yearns. Yes, such is the immensity of Christ’s gift to us that he unites himself physically and spiritually to every part of us – even our toenails!

Moreover, through welcoming Christ in faith into our life in the form of bread and wine, and to the extent that we make ourselves available to respond to his love and mercy, it is no longer we who live but rather Christ who lives through us.

In this way, Christ consecrates our lives and continues the Father’s mission of extending healing and peace to our shattered world – in the hope that someday not just bread and wine but the whole of creation will be consecrated to God.