Happy Eucharist!

This coming Thursday, many of us will gather with family and friends around the dinner table in the celebration of the great feast of Thanksgiving. Is it possible that there is some connection to this holiday and Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist?

Indeed there is. In fact, it’s the very word Eucharist. It comes from the Greek word eucharistia (εὐχαριστία) which means “thanksgiving.” If we look at the institution of the Eucharist in, for example, Luke’s Gospel, we find that Jesus took a cup and gave thanks, and also when he took the bread, he said the blessing before breaking it. These words of thanks and blessing are known in Hebrew as the berekah prayers. The Jewish blessings over a meal, most importantly during a seder (as was the Last Supper), begin with these familiar words to us Catholics: “Blessed are you, Lord God …,” as we hear them said by the priest during the consecration of the bread and wine at Mass.

How thankful indeed we are to God for all the meals that we eat. But we are most especially thankful for this very special meal that takes place at Mass. We are thankful that God gave us his only begotten Son, Jesus. And we are thankful that Jesus would want to die for each and every one of us so that could have eternal life with God. And we are further thankful that Jesus would give himself to each and every one of us time and time again in Holy Communion.

In this great act of thankfulness at the Mass, we participate in the praises sung by the angels in heaven, and the Paschal Mystery (Christ’s passion, death and resurrection) is made present for us by the Holy Spirit. Thus, as we gather in thanks at the dinner table this Thursday, let us be thankful for all the blessings we receive from God. And let us be most especially thankful for Jesus and his Real Presence in the Eucharist.

"This sacrament is called Eucharist because it is an action of thanksgiving to God [and recalls] the Jewish blessings that proclaim – especially during a meal – God’s works: of creation, redemption and sanctification." - Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1328

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Contact me at eucharist@stmli.org.