Friday, September 21, 2007

More than writings

I read a conversion story a couple of weeks ago. I wish I could find that blog post again, but I really can't remember where I found it. Anyways... in the story, a woman related how she was struck by something her pastor (he was converting and she was talking to him about it) said to her about his reason for becoming a Catholic.
He told her, more or less, that Jesus gave us Himself and not a collection of writings. I gathered that what he meant was that Jesus didn't leave us with the Bible, but rather His body and blood in the Eucharist.
God has put things into writing before (think 10 commandments), but Jesus chose not write anything for His children. The Gospels and the other writings of the New Testament were written by early Christians after the death of Christ. Don't get me wrong. The NT is a great thing and it has been very instrumental in the salvation of countless souls, but Jesus left us with something much more personal and intimate.
At the Last Supper Jesus left us with the gift of His body and blood. Almost everyone of us has heard the question, "Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?". Accepting Him however is just a beginning. Jesus is waiting for us in the Eucharist. In the Eucharist we can accept Jesus with more that just words; we can take in His actual body into our own.
The hosts and wine consecrated at each Mass are part of the same Body that hung on the cross 2000 years ago. Jesus comes to us in a very real and physical way as well as the sanctifying grace. We are nourished body and soul by the Blessed Sacrament. Like a lover Christ waits for us to accept Him and His love.
God is Love and he left the gift of Love at the altar every day waiting, like always, for us to to love and accept Him who loved us first.

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