Eucharistic Wisdom

Today’s readings are about how we must live using wisdom and relying on the Eucharist. In our first reading from Proverbs we are asked to imagine a house built by a woman called Wisdom.  She says to us.  “Come in; sit at my table.  Eat my food and drink my wine.  When you do this you will understand, and you will then live.” That’s quite an invitation.  Sort of like “Eat, drink, and be lively!”

Wisdom sounds like Jesus talking to the crowds in today’s Gospel reading from John. Jesus says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever...” 

In the second reading Paul says we should watch how we live. He gives his own bit of wisdom about how we should live that life: do not get drunk on wine; be filled with the spirit; and always give thanks in the name of Christ to God.  Paul was very wise.

To help us understand and appreciate Paul’s advice; what the Wisdom woman suggests; and what Jesus means by living bread, here’s a story.

A man built a prosperous business through hard work and honest dealings.  As he got older, he became concerned about the future of his business because he didn’t have children. However, he had three nephews.

One day he summoned the three young men and announced: “I have a problem. Whoever comes up with the best solution will inherit all that I possess.”

Giving each one of them an equal amount of money, he instructed them to buy something that would fill his large office.  He then said, “Spend no more than I have given you, and be sure you are back by sunset.” When the shadows lengthened and it was getting dark, they obediently returned to make their reports.

The first nephew dragged in a huge sack of Styrofoam packing “peanuts” that nearly filled the office when the sacks were emptied.

After the room was cleared, the second nephew brought in bundles of helium-filled balloons that floated throughout the office, filling it better than the “peanuts.”

The third young man was then asked what he had to offer.  He replied, “Uncle, I spent half of my money to help a family whose house burned down last night. Then I ran into some kids in trouble and gave most of the rest to an inner-city youth center. With the little bit I had left, I bought this candle and matches.” He lit the candle, and its glowing light filled every corner of the room!

His uncle then realized that here was the noblest of his family. He blessed the nephew for making the best use of his money and then welcomed him into his business.

This third nephew’s attitude and behavior is right in keeping with Paul’s advice and Wisdom’s suggestion.  And, that attitude and behavior represent an important, central meaning of the Eucharist – how we should live.

Through the Eucharist we become candles lit by our Church for Jesus, sending us – his light – into every room and every place throughout our community, our nation and even the world.

Our Church teaches us that the Eucharist is a call to service. It’s meant to send us out of Christ the King ready to express Jesus’ hospitality, humility, and love.  At the end of Mass, you’ll hear: “Go in peace, glorifying God by your life.” We do this through service.

We are to be the flesh of Jesus, that living and life-giving bread for those who hunger for love and need compassion and kindness.

Today when we receive the Host, we will hear the familiar words: “The Body of Christ”- his “flesh.” Let the following story be an example of what these words mean.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a rule that when a newcomer arrived to join her Order, the Missionaries of Charity, the next day that newcomer had to go to the nearby Home of the Dying.

One day a girl from outside India came to join, so Mother Teresa said to her, “You see with what love and care the priest touched Jesus in the Host during Mass. Now go to the Home for the Dying and do the same, because it is the same Jesus you will find there in the broken bodies of the poor.”  Three hours later, the newcomer came back, and with a big smile she said, “Mother I have been touching the Body of Christ for about three hours.” 

“How, what did you do?” Mother Teresa asked her.

“When I arrived there,” she replied, “they brought in a man who had fallen into a drain, and he had been there for some time. He was covered with dirt and had many wounds. I washed him and cleaned his wounds.  As I did so, I knew I was touching the Body of Christ.”

Now, that’s the connection between the Eucharist and service.  Through the Eucharist, the Lord helps us understand how we should live our lives. When we receive we should understand that we touch the Body of Christ with our hands, or with our tongues. We are, in turn, supposed to touch the Body of Christ in the same way as Mother Teresa’s newcomer.
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Deacon David Pierce