Jesus did not leave us with a memory; He left us Himself.

PROOF OF HOW MUCH JESUS LOVES US

A couple had recently celebrated their Golden Wedding when the husband learnt from his doctor that he was seriously ill and had only a few days to live.  He and his wife were alone together, and their conversation went something like this:

"I'm going to miss you, my love," he began.  "Thank you for all the happiness you’ve given me over the years.  If I were to live my life again, I’d do exactly the same things - with you.  I can still remember the day I fell in love with you.  It was at that parish dance on St Patrick’s Night.  The photograph I love best of us is the one taken on our honeymoon.  How often I’ve looked at it and thought of all the good times we shared."

A few days later, he died.

His wife remembered what he had said about when he first fell in love with her.  She looked at the photograph he had cherished.  It was beautiful, but it could not compare to the man she had loved and lived with for so many years.  If only she could have him back!

Jesus, our elder Brother, knew on that Holy Thursday that He was going to die the next day.  He could have spoken to His apostles in the same way.

He could have said, “Do you remember how many times, on our travels, we passed Bethlehem and I pointed out the place where I was born?  Or the synagogue at Capernaum, where I loved to preach?”  He might have turned to Peter and said, “I don’t suppose you’ll ever forget walking on the water with Me on the Sea of Galilee?”

And He might have added: “When I’m gone, I want you to tell everyone where I was born, preserve the synagogue at Capernaum, and put up a plaque on the shore of the Sea of Galilee to mark the spot where Peter and I walked!”

And yes, when Jesus died, the Apostles did tell people about these things, His birthplace, His preaching, His miracles.  But they knew that all those memories, precious though they were, could not compare to having Him still with them after His death.

So Jesus did something no other founder of a religion has ever done.  On the night before He died, He took bread and said, “This is My Body.” He took a cup of wine and said, “This is My Blood.” No longer were they simply bread and wine, but His very Self: His Body and Blood, to be the Food and Drink of our souls.

Just think of the wonder of this: Jesus loved each one of us so much that He did not want to leave us merely memories of Himself, but His Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist, our greatest Treasure.

We should try to receive Holy Communion as often as we can. That is why, as a priest, it is heartening to see that in every parish there are people who come to Mass every day, or as often as possible during the week.  They are not content to give Jesus the bare minimum by coming only on Sundays.

Inevitably, for some people, Holy Communion today will be their last on earth.  As you approach the altar, imagine that you could be one of them, and I am sure you will make this Communion the best you have ever received.

Lord Jesus, every time we come to receive You in Holy Communion, may we hear in our hearts those words of Yours: "I have longed to have this meal with you."  And may we, in turn, say the same to You.

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