Christmas Weekday
Our Gospel today begins, “John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.’” The One whom John identified becomes real to us in every Mass. God calls us, invites us, to behold the Son, and not only to take him in visually, but to take him in literally as we consume the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord in the Eucharist. As we begin this new year, let us examine our approach to the Eucharist. It’s my prayer that we would all be inspired to more frequent reception of the Eucharist and to deepen our hunger and thirst for it.
“Behold the Lamb of God; behold him who takes away the sin of the world. Blessed are those called to the Supper of the Lamb.” During every Mass, as you observe the priest elevate the Body and Blood of our Lord and hear him speak these words, what goes through your heart and mind? “Behold the Lamb of God” – what does that phrase, that invitation, that summons mean to you?
When the people went out into the desert that day to see John the Baptist, he called out, “Behold the Lamb of God,” and directed their attention to Jesus. They had the privilege of seeing him in the flesh, walking toward them, standing in their midst. There he is! It’s really him! Fast forward to today. “Behold the Lamb of God!” the priest calls to us. Does that command your attention? Are you riveted on Jesus who has literally and actually been made real and present to you on the altar? I hope your entire being cries out, Look! It’s Jesus! Right here! Right here with us! Right here inviting us to receive him, to consume him, to commune with him, to become one with him! WOW, what an unspeakable mystery, yet undeniable reality! “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof . . .” And yet somehow, I am worthily unworthy, because our Lord spreads a banquet and invites me to come and partake, come and receive Him. WOW.
For many people, believing in the very real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is difficult. Our physical senses cannot perceive the transformation that takes place in the bread and wine. One might gaze upon the host that is placed in the hand or on the tongue and wonder, am I really beholding the Lamb of God? Consider the virgin birth. God the Father sent his only Begotten Son into the world to walk this earth as one who was fully God and fully man. He literally appeared in the fullness of time and lived among the people of his day. This is an incredible mystery, a supreme miracle! For those who struggle to trust in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, perhaps it helps to meditate on the reality of the virgin birth. The Son of God became the Lamb of God for us. He walked the earth, suffered, died, and rose over 2,000 years ago. He was real and present in Mary’s womb and has made himself real and present on our altars ever since his Ascension during every single Mass. It really is Jesus! From day one He has been with us.
This Jesus who has never left us, this Jesus loves you immensely and immeasurably. He spreads a table for you and invites you to come and receive him. Imagine that during every Mass, from the altar, Jesus calls your name and says, “[fill in your name], won’t you come let me love you, won’t you come and receive me?!” (Imagine that during every Mass that you might miss Jesus weeps over your absence. He cries out, oh my beloved, don’t you want to receive me?!) On the night he was betrayed, Jesus shared a meal with his disciples in intimate communion. Jesus desires that same intimacy, and an even deeper communion with each one of us. Jesus comes to lead us to the Father and into union with the Holy Trinity. Every Eucharist becomes an opportunity to become a little closer to God, more at one with him, partakers in the divine. As you consume Christ in Communion, may he consume you, transforming you more and more into his image. And may each of us today cultivate a more desperate hunger for the Eucharist. I pray we might each commit to more frequent reception of the Eucharist. In it we find everything and all that we need. It will change our lives – He will change our lives. To God be the glory! Amen!
-Elizabeth Wells