I have longed to have this meal with you

“I HAVE LONGED TO HAVE THIS MEAL WITH YOU.”

A man once asked me, “What do Catholics believe about the Holy Eucharist?”  I replied, “We believe that in what looks like a wafer of bread is the Risen Christ.  To the eye it looks like bread, tastes like bread, feels like bread.  But when I hold the wafer of bread between my fingers and thumbs at Mass and say over it, “This is my Body”, we Catholics believe that the Risen Lord’s Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity is truly present.  The substance of bread is changed from bread into the Risen Lord.  It is in fact the greatest miracle that takes place every day in our Catholic churches.  That is what we Catholics believe about the Holy Eucharist.”  The man then said, “If I was a Catholic, and I believed that, I would never get off my knees adoring Jesus.”  His reply gives us Catholics much food for thought.  How strong is our belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist?

I remember when I was a parish priest speaking at a Parish Council Meeting and trying to persuade the council members to help me initiate perpetual adoration in the parish, that is, adoration 24 hours a day.  They all agreed it was an excellent idea, but some thought it was not a very practical one.  I could appreciate their point because we were a small and elderly parish.  I thought I wasn’t going to let this idea die.  I would take it to the priests of the deanery.  There were twelve parishes in our deanery and perhaps some of their parishioners may be interested in helping our parish to have perpetual adoration.  Sadly, it was not to be.  They too agreed it was an excellent idea, but for security reasons they could not support it.  I personally think we missed a wonderful opportunity of showing Our Lord how much we loved Him, and how much we wanted to thank Him for His generosity being with us every second of every day.

It is sad that because of vandalism and lack of respect we are unable to leave our churches open night and day.  Just think if they were left open what a message it would send out to the world.  Some people, of course, would think we were fanatics.

Perhaps Jesus is a fanatic in leaving Himself with us all the time as a Prisoner in the Tabernacle.  Others would have to admit what strong beliefs we have.  It would make others inquire what it's all about and perhaps when they realise what it is all about would want to join us.  I think it would certainly bring an increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life.  It would certainly tell Jesus one thing, how much we Catholics appreciate what He did for us.

How did Jesus begin His Last Supper?  He sat down at table with His twelve Apostles and said, “I have longed to have this meal with you.”  Remember who is speaking – God – not just our favourite celebrity.  What He says He means.  Today is the feast of Corpus Christi and we have to ask ourselves what response do we, as a person and as a parish, give to such eagerness on the part of Jesus.  We should all try to receive Him not just on Sundays, but as often as we can, and even every day.  When we approach Holy Communion, we should prepare our hearts to be as worthy as possible to receive Him.  If we don’t receive Our Lord in Holy Communion as often as we can, I think one of the greatest regrets we shall have when we get to Heaven will be, “Jesus, I now appreciate how wonderful you are.  How sad, how cold, how foolish I was.  I had the opportunity to receive you so often even every day in Holy Communion and I didn’t.”  Don’t wait until you get to Heaven to appreciate the Real Presence.  Appreciate Jesus now.  I always regard those who go to Mass and Holy Communion every day, or as often as they possibly can, as His special friends.  It is He who gives them this special love and grace.

An Italian lady once told how her father used to make homemade wine for their annual family celebrations.  The members around the table would sip the wine and compliment him on its good quality.  He would smile showing his appreciation.  He was happy that his family appreciated both him and his labour.  Eventually he died, leaving many of his unopened bottles in the wine cellar.  Now when the family gathers for anniversaries and holidays, they continue to share a bottle of their father’s wine.  It helps them to remember the good times of the past.  In the wine they sense his presence as still being with them.

The Holy Eucharist is something like that, but much more.  It is the Real Presence of the Risen Lord abiding with His people in His glorified Body.  It’s His unique way to be with us always.  Corpus Christi evokes memories from the Upper Room, the multiplication of the loaves, the manna in the desert and more.  It’s a memorial of the past.  Corpus Christi speaks to the present.  Jesus said, “I am the Living Bread.”  That is, right now, today.  Through our reception of the Living Bread, we are being strengthened at this very moment.  Corpus Christi carries a future promise, an everlasting pledge of future glory for Jesus said, “Anyone who eats this Bread will live forever.”

Lord Jesus, when we come to receive You in Holy Communion let our first words be, “Thank You, Father, for giving me Your Son.  Jesus, I love You and thank You for all You have done for me.”  There is no better way to start our thanksgiving.  May we all receive through the Holy Spirit the grace to be drawn nearer to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

 
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