“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” This well-known and beautiful verse from the Gospel of John reveals the deep love the Father has for us. God gave us life and a beautiful world to live in, but we turned away from Him. Yet instead of abandoning us, He chose to redeem us by giving us His Way, His Truth, and His Life.
Jesus longs to unite Himself with us so He can guide us on the path to eternal life and joy. Just as a husband gives himself completely to his wife, Jesus gives us His very body and spirit. In another powerful passage from John’s Gospel, Jesus says, “Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, but they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven… Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, He dwells within us, and staying close to Him is the key to reaching heaven.
Jesus also offers His body as a sacrifice for us, just as He did on the cross. At the Last Supper, He said, “This is my body, given for you.” He first humbled Himself by coming into the world as a helpless baby. Now, He humbles Himself even more by taking on the appearance of bread for us to eat and wine for us to drink.
Just as we need food and drink to stay alive, we need Jesus to nourish our souls. John records another promise from Jesus: “But whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” When we receive Jesus worthily in the Eucharist, we are spiritually nourished and blessed with inspiration, wisdom, and protection. Jesus truly walks with us throughout the day, and we begin to change for the better when we carry Him with us. That’s why I love beginning my day at daily Mass whenever I can. I can’t think of a better way to start the day than by receiving Jesus into my body and carrying Him with me as I face the challenges ahead.
When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, we become like a living monstrance, bringing Him into the world. Though we often stumble and let selfishness creep in, we can keep our inner monstrance clean through regular confession. Don’t let material distractions pull you away. Stay close to Jesus, carry Him with you, and you will be satisfied.
