Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

New DeSales World Newsletter - Summer Edition

Body and Blood of Christ (June 22, 2003)

Readings Ex 24: 3-8 Ps 116: 12-13, 15-18 Heb 9: 11-15 Mk 14: 12-16, 22-26

Suggested Emphasis

"Do this in memory of me."

Salesian Perspective

Eucharist – a word that literally means thanksgiving – is the central celebration of the Christian community. It speaks volumes of who God is in our lives. It speaks volumes of who we are called to be in the lives of one another.

Eucharist celebrates the truth that God so loves us that God sent Jesus to be our redeemer. Eucharist celebrates the truth that God so loves us that God allowed Jesus to be body broken and blood poured out for us. Eucharist celebrates the truth that God loves us so much that the Spirit raised Jesus from the dead that we might share in the power and promise of eternal life.

Eucharistic Prayer III for Children says it this way: Jesus “brought us the good news of life to be lived with you forever in heaven. He showed us the way to that life here on earth; the way of love…He now brings us together to one table and asks us to do what he did.”

Eucharistic Prayer II for Reconciliation tells us that Jesus “has entrusted to us this pledge of his love.” Eucharist celebrates the truth that we are called to do more than simply receive the body and blood of Christ. Eucharist celebrates the truth that we are the body and blood of Christ for one another. Eucharist celebrates the truth that we are called to allow ourselves to be broken and poured out for others, to spend our lives in the pursuit of justice, peace, reconciliation, healing, freedom, life and love.

We are called to proclaim the death of the Lord in our willingness to be bread and wine for others. We are called to proclaim the death of the Lord – the power of the Lord – the promise of the Lord – in our willingness to lay down our lives, our talents and our efforts to continue the redeeming, saving work that Jesus began.

We demonstrate our Eucharistic dignity and destiny when we follow Jesus’ command to “do this in memory” of him: not only by celebrating Eucharist on the first day of the week, but by being Eucharist for one another, every day of the week by feeding, nourishing and forgiving one another.

Let us be Eucharist for one another. Let us feed, nourish and forgive…in memory of him…in fellowship with one another.\

Rev. Michael S. Murray, OSFS, is Executive Director of the
De Sales Spirituality Center in Washington, DC