As the traditional feast of the Jewish passover approaches, the disciples of Jesus approach their master to ask him where he wants them to make preparations for this important feast. The disciples understand quite well the tradition of keeping the passover meal within the home, which could extend to the neighbourhood, as required by the Law of Moses. It is a meal of communion and fraternal bond. Jesus directs them to a certain man’s home, just as in communion God makes the choice to make his home in us; and like the centurion we say, “Lord I am not worthy that you should come under my roof but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

The preparation for the Jewish passover is taken very seriously, just as in communion the preparation is very essential.

At the table for this meal, Jesus takes the bread, says the blessing, gives the bread to his disciples saying, “Take this and eat of it; this is my body”. It is real bread which becomes real body of Christ and wine that becomes the blood of Christ. Blessing and prayer of thanksgiving is central to this meal. It becomes both human nourishment and spiritual food. “Blessed are you Lord God of all creation for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you, fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.” “Blessed are you Lord God of all creation for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you, fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become for us our spiritual drink.” The liturgical action of offering up the fruit of our land and the wine of our vineyard in exchange of the body and blood of Christ is more represented in “the mystery of the wine and water in which we come to share the divinity of Christ who has humbled himself to share in our humanity”.

The bread is broken to be shared among as many as would desire him. “This is my body, broken for you, giving you wholeness, making you free, take this and eat it and when you do, do it in love for me.” Jesus offers the blessing cup to his disciples – “Take this all of you and drink from it”, he says, “This is my blood, the blood of the new covenant, poured out and shed for you.” This bread is a gift to the hungry and not for the greedy. It is drink for the thirsty and not for those who abuse it. As the poverty of hunger and thirst reflect our own spiritual hunger and thirst, our spiritual nourishment prompts us to minister to the hungry and the needy.

The Church teaches that Christ is really present in the Eucharist – body, soul and divinity. This Eucharist as the Church teaches is the source and summit of our liturgical life. We approach the Eucharist with the most reverent disposition to God who is concealed in form of bread and wine.

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all Praise and all Thanksgiving be every Moment Thine!