By Nna Anulumadu
Christians have been urged not to underestimate the power in the Eucharist that saves and gives life.
The Parish priest of St Albert the great Parish, Oraukwu Rev Fr Joseph Ogechukwu Nwankwor made the call while preaching a Homily on the Eucharist.
According to him the Eucharist is the source of all christian life and the summit of every good work. It is in the Eucharist that the Liturgical actions reflect its innate splendour ( Pope Benedict XVI).
“A lot of mysteries take place. If you have the eyes to see! Since the Eucharist only happen within the liturgy of the Sacrifice of the Cross, re-enacted on the alter, the Eucharist is a banquet that happens both “here and there” between humans and angels , both for the living and the dead, in the sharing of God’s life. It is a banquet that starts at the foot of the Cross and gradually ushers us into a never-ending heavenly drama in heaven.( Steve Ray, author of St. John’s gospel, in his appreciation of the book, ” Worthy is the Lamb). In the Eucharist, the Son of God comes to meet humanity and desires to become one with us. In truth, the Eucharistic adoration is simply the natural consequence of the Eucharistic celebration, which is itself churche’s supreme act of adoration (Pope Benedict XVI).
Finally, let today be a moment of reawakening from slumber. So many people both young and old no longer desire to approach the alter to share in the bread and wine which mystically is the body and blood of Christ either daily or at least weekly. So many are cold towards the sacraments of the penance. Hence, they are incapable of sharing in the food of the angels. “If you do not eat and drink the body and blood of Christ, there is no life in you” ( Jn. 6: 53ff) biblical injucture troubles no conscience any more.
Spare some moments today reflecting on your journey with God in the Eucharist. When last did you go for a decent and well organised confession? When last did you welcome Jesus Christ into you in the Eucharist? These personal interrogations , when sincerely administered would help greatly anyone who courageously dares.
Let the Holy Spirit who is in our midst inspire us today. Let the power of the Trinitarian God ignite in our hearts a burning desire to shake off our lukewarmness, our coldness and our disdain and renew and revive our faith, our desire and our thirst for God and for the sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist. Let our faith speak words to our consciences. Let our faith evoke a surrender to that only food, “from which our strength to live the christian life ( courageously) and the zeal to share that life with others” comes(Saint Pope John Paul II).
For within this “mysterium Fidei” is simultaneously our beginning and our end.
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