“Brothers and sisters: I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Words so familiar, accompanied by the gestures of looking up, thanking, breaking and giving. Every Eucharist the words of Paul, and of Jesus at the last supper echo in our ears.
We might be surprised to know that Paul’s teaching of the Corinthians, predates the last supper accounts in the gospels. It was already known, repeated and celebrated. How interesting, we call that a ‘tradition’, a handing over. Paul uses the word twice in a different way. He hands the story to his disciples and describes the handing over of Jesus for the passion.
The great gift of the Eucharist brings us together with the Lord, forming a relationship with Him, making us one with each other and permits us to acknowledge a living Presence among us. At every mass, in every tabernacle, the Lord is present to be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection.
Remember the person who met Philip and said ‘Sir, we would like to see Jesus?’
He is here.