6th Reflection on Eucharistic Prayers: We become whom we receive

“The Eucharist: The Gift That Keeps on Giving … and giving, and giving.”

By Fr. Ron Will, CPPS

This the sixth in a series of reflections on the Eucharistic prayers that we pray during Mass. The series is titled “The Eucharist: The Gift that keeps on giving, and giving, and giving.”

Earlier in June, we had a eucharistic convocation in St. Louis titled “An Infusion with the Blood of Christ” for our extended Precious Blood family. In July, a Eucharistic Congress will convene in Indianapolis, Indiana. Both events call us to increase our understanding of the importance of the Eucharist in our lives.

The same Jesus who was born in Bethlehem, who walked the earth, who suffered and died on the cross, who rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of the Father — that same Jesus Christ is really, truly, substantially present in every Mass and in every Tabernacle. He is there so that you can receive him in Holy Communion and become one with him. He is there so that you can encounter him, adore him, and be changed into Him.

The Eucharist tells us that God loves us enough to give his life for us. We must remember that it cost Jesus his life to give us the Eucharist. He had to pour out his Body and Blood to give it to us, and so in this way, the Eucharist tells us how beloved you and I are.

St. Augustine taught that first, there is the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. The other, equally important, miracle is the transfiguration of those who receive the Lord into his living presence in the world. Just as bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Jesus in the Holy Spirit, we who receive the Lord are meant to be changed to reflect his loving presence in the world.

I hope that my reflections today will make you more attentive to the Eucharistic Prayer at the next Mass you attend, which ever Eucharistic Prayer is used. Start really listening to the readings and the prayers, and the pieces of the puzzle of the Mass will come together. You will only then begin to see the incredible vision God has for our lives, for His Church, and for the world.

Thank you for joining me today.

I invite you to join me again next month, as I continue this series on “The Eucharist: The Gift that just keeps on giving, and giving, and giving.”

We will then reflect on another one of the 13 Eucharistic Prayers that may be used during Mass.

May God bless you today and throughout the week.

All of the videos in this series can be found here: Reflections on the Eucharistic Prayers.

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[Fr. Ron Will, a Precious Blood priest and spiritual director, is a graduate of Catholic Theological Union and Creighton University’s School of Christian Spirituality. He has a special interest in helping form intentional disciples of Jesus, encouraging others to go spiritually deep-sea diving to explore a deeper relationship with God, and walking with people as they dive into the ocean of God’s mystery actually experiencing God rather than simply dipping one’s toe into the water.]

Photo 25166444 | Children Mass © Sebastian Czapnik | Dreamstime.com

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