August 18, 2024 Daily Dose of Discernment

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.” (John 6:53)

This is straight from the horse’s mouth. Jesus affirms that His body and blood made available to us in the Eucharist are essential to enable us to share in His divine life and nature. But if we partake of them with the sole motive of obtaining personal, individual benefit, then we miss the point. His life is meant to be shared. Otherwise, it cannot be fully received.

The Eucharistic Prayer says, “As we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus may we be transformed to become the Body of Christ to the world.” That’s the end purpose of the sacrament: that we have His life in us and be conformed to His image collectively as His Church and individually as its members and represent Him to the world as we serve as the extension of His grace and mercy. Let us diligently come to the Lord’s table so we can fulfill our role as little Christs.