The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Catholic faith. Our faith, hope, and love flow out of our prayerful reception of Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity that we receive each time we worthily receive Holy Communion. The union with Christ that we experience after receiving Holy Communion is a foretaste of the goal of our faith: being one with Christ in heaven. Receiving Holy Communion enables us to become one with Christ, even just for the precious few minutes after we receive Him.
“The faith of the Church is this: That one and identical is the Word of God and Son of Mary Who suffered on the Cross, Who is present in the Eucharist, Who rules in Heaven.” Pope Pius XII
When we frequently and prayerfully receive Holy Communion, we are able to stay close to Jesus. Jesus reminds of this in our Gospel reading today: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him” (John 6:56). In the allegory of the Vine and the Branches (John 15:1-17), Jesus paints a picture of what life attached to Him looks like. It’s a fruitful branch that’s a conduit for the life of the “True Vine.” He is the Vine, we are the branches. By keeping Christ’s commandments and receiving Him in the Eucharist, we remain in Him. We stay close to Him. We become like Him.
In the allegory, Jesus reminds us that we are totally dependent on remaining close to Him in order to have a fruitful life: “Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5). Notice that last line: “without me you can do nothing.” Whoa—nothing?! But then consider what St. Paul wrote: “I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). All things? Yes, all things. But only through Christ, by remaining in Him.
“I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me.” Galatians 2:19-20
The next time you receive Holy Communion, consider taking a few minutes after Mass in thankful prayer. Imagine yourself as a branch, attached to Christ, the True Vine. The Eucharist you receive allows you to remain close to Christ, through Whom you can do all things.
Mass Readings for the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ
- Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16
- Psalm 147:12-20
- 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
- John 6:51-58