January 2016 Recollection: Holy Eucharist, food for the Lenten journey

From today on, in two weeks coming, our Mother Church will invite us to make a special journey of spiritual and human preparation
in order to revive and live worthily the mystery of our salvation, the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus-Christ.
In this regard, I wish to put our recollection of this month of February under the theme of LENT and HOLY EUCHARIST.
The combining of these two topic is also inspired by the 51st International Eucharistic Congress 2016 which have just been held in
Cebu, current of this week.
Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter.
In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday marks the FIRST DAY, or the start of the Lenten season, which begins 40 days prior to
Easter (Sundays are not included in the count).
Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of Fasting, Repentance, Moderation (in many aspects
of life) and Spiritual Discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ – his suffering and his sacrifice, his life,
death, burial and resurrection.

Lent and fasting

Lent and fasting seem to go together naturally in some Christian churches, while others consider this form of self-denial a personal,
private matter.
It’s easy to find examples of fasting in both the Old and New Testaments. In Old Testament times, fasting was observed to express
grief. Starting in the New Testament, fasting took on a different meaning, as a way to focus on God and prayer.
Such a focus was Jesus Christ’s intent during his 40-day fast in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-2).
+ Lent and Fasting in the Catholic Church…
The Roman Catholic Church has a long tradition of fasting and Lent.
Not only do we fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, but they also abstain from meat on those days and all the Fridays during
Lent. Fasting does not mean complete denial of food, however.
On fast days, we are allowed to eat one full meal (and if need there is, two smaller meals which, together, do not constitute a full
meal). Young children, the elderly, and persons whose health would be affected are exempt from fasting regulations.
Fasting is associated with prayer and alms giving as spiritual disciplines to take a person’s attachment away from the world and focus
it on God and Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
In his message for this Lent 2016 for example, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice” (Mt 9:13). As indication on how to live deeply the
Lenten exigencies in this Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis focus on “The works of mercy” which are of two categories:
Spiritual works of mercy: seven (7):
1. Counseling the doubtful 5. Forgiving injuries
2. Instructing the ignorant 6. Bearing wrongs patiently
3. Admonishing the sinner 7. Praying for the living and the dead
4. Comforting the sorrowful

Corporal works of mercy: also seven (7)

1. Feed the hungry 2. Give drink to the thirsty 3. Shelter the homeless
4. Visit the sick 5. Visit the prisoners 6. Bury the dead
7. Give alms to the poor

Starting, we went saying that Lent is a time of preparation, a journey with Christ going to suffer death for our sake and for the
remission of our sins. As journey, it need strength and commitment in order to be able to move with Christ. And who talk about
strength talk about food. The Eucharist is food for the journey. Lent is the favorable time to take into consideration what we can do
to strengthen our relationship with God and grow more deeply in our faith. What better way to do that than taking extra time with
the sacraments of confession and Eucharist? And the Eucharist is the place where we experience that Christ really gave Himself to
us totally and completely.

“Christ in You, Our Hope of Glory”

And as they were eating, He took bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them saying, ‘Take; this is my body.’(Mark 14:22)
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, ‘This is my blood
of the covenant, which is poured out for many. (Mark 14:23-24)
That is what our Catholic Faith demands of us that we believe. If we believe this, we are Catholic. If we do not, we are not, no matter
what people may think we are.
“The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life.” (Lumen Gentium, 11)
What is the Holy Eucharist?
The Holy Eucharist is a sacrament and a sacrifice. In the Holy Eucharist, under the appearances of bread and wine, the Lord Christ is
contained, offered, and received.
 (a) The whole Christ is really, truly, and substantially present in the Holy Eucharist. We use the words “really, truly, and
substantially” to describe Christ’s presence in the Holy Eucharist in order to distinguish Our Lord’s teaching from that of mere men
who falsely teach that the Holy Eucharist is only a sign or figure of Christ, or that He is present only by His power.
(b) The word “Eucharist” means “Thanksgiving.”
Why does Christ give us His own body and blood in the Holy Eucharist?
Christ gives us His own body and blood in the Holy Eucharist: first, to be offered as a sacrifice commemorating and renewing for all
time the sacrifice of the cross; second, to be received by the faithful in Holy Communion; third, to remain ever on our altars as the
proof of His love for us, and to be worshiped by us.

“Christ in You, Our Hope of Glory” The theme of the congress was “Christ in You, Our Hope of Glory” which was taken from the
Letter of St. Paul to the Colossians. (Colossians 1:27) “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious
riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all
wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.”
Let’s conclude saying that the Holy Eucharist is the food for the Lenten journey.