Did you know we are a part of the saving sacrificial gift for the world? The gifts we bring to the altar are not the only gifts! When we come together to worship at Mass, we, the faithful, offer ourselves up as a sacrifice! We are called to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This means our bodies are not simply flesh and bones but our very selves. We become the spiritual sacrifice!
We were made to live with our God, but unfortunately, the fall in the Garden of Eden required intervention from our creator. We move forward from the beginning of salvation history toward our transformation in Christ to partake in his divinity. As temporal beings, this takes time. As we receive Holy Communion, Jesus can transform us into himself. However, we must be ready to receive, or we cannot fully become what we accept. Our Lord always shows up 100% in the sacramental life of the church, but we might not always be open or ready to receive. This doesn’t mean we can never receive, but we might need more time to prepare our hearts.
When we receive Communion, we don’t change Christ into ourselves; he transforms us into him! This is why the doctrine of real presence is such a keystone. The host is not simply a symbol of Jesus or a projection of his presence. He is truly, substantially present in body, blood, soul, and divinity!
So, what is this transformation, and what are its effects? I turn to two quotes to help us: the first from Sr. Bernadette Reis, FSP (BustedHalo.com), and the second from James Dobbins (EWTN, “The Eucharist and its Effects”).
They say, “The transformation we undergo also mirrors what happens to the bread and wine. The bread and wine are not aware of the transformation taking place. They are simply there, or present, and undergo transformation. All throughout our lives, our bodies are undergoing continual transformations. We are not aware of the transformations taking place, but we know they are taking place because they concretely manifest themselves. In the same way, all that is required is that we be present to Christ and allow him to transform us. We may never be aware of the actual transformation taking place, but we will definitely be aware of the effects of that transformation in our lives.”
And of the effects, “…the Eucharist is like the effects of food for our body. Food sustains life, and the Eucharist sustains the life of the soul. It gives us the grace we need to deny ourselves and to life [sic] for Christ, to live for our life. The more love we have for Christ, the less self-love we have. The more we love God, the more we can resist temptation, and so the Eucharist strengthens us spiritually. Thus, the Eucharist has the effect of bringing to life the virtues in us so that we can live the life of Christ in us. But just as ordinary food can be effected only when properly digested, so too, the Eucharist can only produce its good effects when we are properly disposed to receive it.”
Come and encounter Christ at Mass, do it in memory of him, hear his Word, receive his real presence, experience his transformative love, and then share this experience with others. May the Easter season continue to bless you and the risen Lord transform you!