Skip to main content

The Lesson of Christmas and the Eucharist

"The only ultimate reason for Bethlehem is Jerusalem; the only reason in God's mind for becoming a Child was so that He might, as man, die on the Cross. In a word, the mystery of Christmas is the mystery of God's unfathomable love that wants to suffer. God took on human flesh so that He might be able to endure pain. That is the mystery of Christmas, the mystery of God's love, in order that loving, He might endure the Cross.

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

What is the mystery of the Eucharist? It is the same. You would think that God's love would have been satisfied with His becoming man and as man living, suffering and dying for our sins. And having once died, rising from the dead and returning as man to the Father from whom He came. But no, the mystery of God's love is that He invented a way of showing His love for us not only by being with us and near us but God even invented a way of being inside of us. All of this tells us a lot about what love means. 

Love wants to show that it loves. It is not satisfied with sentiments or words. Love wants to prove its love in deeds; better, it wants to show its love in pain. Love wants to be near the one it loves, to be united with the one it loves. All of this is hidden behind the mystery of the Eucharist, made possible by the mystery of Christmas, because these two mysteries are really one. The Eucharist is merely an extension, a continuation, of what happened 2000 years ago in Bethlehem. Because Mary gave birth to the Son of God, we now have the Flesh of the Son of God near us, with us, and when we receive Him in Communion, within us.

Finally, what is the lesson? The lesson of Christmas and the Eucharist must be obvious by now. God does nothing in vain. He did not choose to become man nor does He remain man in our midst except that He wants to evoke from us something of the same kind of love that He showed during His life on earth and still shows us in His life in the Eucharist. Jesus Christ gives us His Flesh and Blood to adore, worship and nourish our souls on, so that we might live with His life. What He wants us to do therefore, and this is the lesson, is to love Him as He has been loving us..."

(Father John A. Hardon, S.J. from Christmas and the Eucharist)

Popular posts from this blog

Look Up! Look Up With the Eyes of Your Mind, Heart and Soul!

en t “When the Host is held on high and a chalice lifted…look up! Look up and see what Mary saw.  See a naked man squirming as He bleeds against a blackened sky; see a battered human body, writhing on a tree, prisoned there by savage spikes that have torn through Sacred hands and feet; see thorn-tortured head tossing from side to side as anguished torso labors, lifts and strains; see the eyes of God roll towards heaven beseeching, as broken lips blurt out that soul piercing cry: “My God, My God, Why has Thou forsaken Me?” What is this?  This is the Mass.  This is Crucifixion.  This is what Mary saw at the elevation of Christianity’s first Mass.  This is what you should see at the Elevation of every Mass!”  (From  The Way to God by Father M. Raymond, O.C.S.O. )
Read more

Looking for the Worse or the Best?

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons) In dealing with ourselves, we should look for what is worse and make it, with God’s grace, the occasion of spiritual growth.   But in dealing with others, we should look for what is best, in order that, as we show mercy to others, God may show His grace and His mercy to us.  Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
Read more

Do Not Think This Message Got Through

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) Pastors should ensure that, unless there is a grave reason against it, churches in which the Blessed Sacrament is normally reserved should be open every day for at least some hours, at the most suitable times, so that the faithful may be easily able to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. (Vatican Council II - Sacramentum Concilium )
Read more