"First Eucharist - How Do We Recognize Jesus?"

This weekend we celebrate First Eucharist with the children of our parish. We know, and our Catholic theology has taught that in His constant love, God the Father always intended to save us through Jesus. The Old Testament prefigures and prepares the way for the Eucharist to be the unique way that Jesus would offer us Himself totally so that we can offer ourselves to one another. He is the Passover lamb and the Bread from Heaven.

As we celebrated in a special way on Holy Thursday, Jesus instituted the Eucharist and the Priesthood to be with His people, the Church for all ages. He taught the Church that they must "eat his flesh and drink his blood" if they are to have eternal life. (John 6) The Eucharist was His last gift—a gift that would last forever as He commanded them to do this in memory of Him. It is through the spirit of God bestowed on the priest at his ordination that allows this miracle to happen at every Mass.

In the past and even presently, certain liturgical purist have focused on "when' the bread and wine actually changes maybe more than the "what" it changes into. Notice how in the Gospel they recognized Jesus but were still afraid, until they received the breath of God in the Holy Spirit. Only Thomas did not believe until he could touch the flesh—and so are we blessed to not only touch, but to consume.

So the Eucharist is not just Jesus, but is a sign and a cause of our communion (union with) God, AND the sign of our unity as Catholics. Another reason why people can't just come to Church and get the Eucharist in a drive-thru, as we are called to participate in the action of the Mass, united as one. The Mass, the celebration of the Eucharist, the breaking of the bread—is the center and the highest point in Catholic life and worship.

Canon Law teaches that liturgical actions by their nature entail a common celebration; they are to be celebrated with the community present. That is why it is great for us to celebrate First Communion as a community, and to be reminded that every time we are blessed to consume Him, we should consume it as if it will be the very first time, or the very last. Our children are a great witness to the entire community and a reminder for us all of the importance of not just the first time we received the Eucharist, but how we should be in awe and honor the Eucharist every time we gather together at Mass.

Congratulations to all of our children receiving this gift!

God bless,

Fr. Jerry