more than a symbol

We’re in week 4 of our message series Half-Truths. The half-truth we confronted this weekend is that the Communion we share at Mass (we call it the Eucharist) is a symbol. (If you missed this weekend’s message or could use a second viewing, watch the message video online.) It’s true that the Eucharist is a symbol--all sacraments are symbols. They are physical signs of what God is doing spiritually to our souls. Communion is a sign or symbol of what God wants to do for us. It is a sign that he wants to nourish us and provide for us. Just as our body needs food and nourishment, taking Communion reminds us that our soul needs nourishment as well. Communion is a symbol, but it is so much more than that, too. We believe that the Eucharist truly is the body and blood of Jesus Christ and that when we celebrate Mass and receive the Eucharist, we are participating in the very death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Spend some time this week reflecting on the Eucharist and your approach or attitude towards it. Do you approach it prayerfully and gratefully? Do you return to the world with a renewed commitment to service, to loving others, and to following Jesus? Ask God for the grace to be an active participant in the Eucharist. Ask God for the grace to allow the Eucharist to change your heart and your life.