In some parts of the Catholic world there used to be a popular “dismissal” at the conclusion of the Mass which went like this: “The Mass never ends, but must be lived. So, let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” These words were meant to convey the intimate and important relationship between one Sunday Mass and the next, that the “Sacramental action” of the Eucharist had a lasting effect and was, in a way, continuous. Ponder these sentiments as you “live the Eucharist” this week.
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When we speak of “eternal life,” we often conclude that it must be something akin to “the next life” or something “far off, in a distant place.” But the sixth chapter of St. John’s Gospel reports that Jesus offers us, in and through the Eucharist, “eternal life” in a new way. He offers us “eternal life” in the sense of life that is authentic, true, and ultimate. He is offering us a life that has meaning, has purpose, and is truly infused with the Divine.
When we possess this kind of “eternal life,” there will be no more need to talk about the dignity or the value of human life because all human life will be respected and treasured. There will be no more violence, no more abortion, no more execution, no more hunger, no more unwanted life, and no more inhuman poverty. Some may scoff at such a notion and easily dismiss it as idealistic, but the life encountered in Jesus Christ (and His Real Presence in the Eucharist) is nothing less than Divine life.
The taste of this Divine life, which we have in the Eucharist, is a taste of that life which is from all eternity, a life of “communion in the love between the Father and the Son.” If we want that, we will make the time and effort to open ourselves to it every Sunday. But this is so much more than just “taking Communion and running.” We have to step into the relationship that is Communion.
If you have not yet done the parish-wide homework (reading John 6), do it! If you have done the homework, keep John 6 clearly marked in your Bible so that you can return to it often. You will continue to find that the Eucharist is our weekly call to the most-intimate encounter with Jesus Christ. The Eucharist, in fact, invites us to open ourselves to the person of Jesus Christ in as full a way as possible. He still teaches us in His Word and He still offers His life to us in the Sacrament. Let us praise Him and thank Him for that – mindful that the Mass never really ends, but must be lived.
Let us pray. “In every age, O God, you give your people freedom to walk in faith or to turn away. Grant us the grace we need to remain faithful to your Holy One, whose words are spirit and life, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. Amen.”
