The only divinely-inspired book in history is the Holy Bible. At one time, people routinely read and learned from the Bible. This highly beneficial practice is experiencing a renaissance of sorts in universities throughout the U.S.A., and needs to again be commonly used in the home.
Lent is a wonderful time to start reading the Bible out loud with your family. Since Holy Thursday is rapidly approaching, the passages about the Holy Eucharist in the New Testament are a good place to start.
Vatican II tells us that the Holy Eucharist is the "font and summit of the faith." Tragically, many Catholics today do not believe in the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. Therefore, reading these sacred Eucharistic passages is an excellent way to teach the Faith to your family.
In St. John’s Gospel, Chapter Six is the pivotal revelation of Our Lord concerning the Holy Eucharist. At the beginning of Chapter Six, Our Blessed Savior multiples the five loaves and two fish of a young boy to feed a crowd of about 5,000 men and their families. At the end of the multiplication, 12 baskets of bread are left over.
In the middle of the chapter, the disciples see Jesus walking across the rough waters of the Sea of Galilee. He tells the frightened apostles: "It is I; do not be afraid." (Jn 6:21)
In the next verses, Our Lord states that "I am the Bread of life." (Jn 6:35) Then Our Blessed Savior declares that: "the bread which I shall give is My own flesh," and that "My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed." (Jn 6:53-55) Jesus concludes this majestic teaching by proclaiming "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in me, and I in him." (Jn 6:56)
Whereas St. John tells us exactly why the Holy Eucharist contains the Real Presence of Jesus, the first three Evangelists describe the institution and purpose of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper.
St. Matthew writes that Our Lord took bread, blessed it and gave it to His disciples saying: "Take this and eat, this is My body." (Mt 26:26) He then took the cup and said "Drink from it, all of you; for this the blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Mt:28-29)
St. Luke’s account of the institution of the Holy Eucharist can be found in Chapter 22: 14-22. St. Mark writes of this marvelous event in Chapter 14: 22-25. As well, St. Paul tells us of the establishment of the sacrament in First Corinthians Chapter 11: 23-26.
You will give yourself and your family a great blessing by reading these holy passages together during Lent. At each Mass, the priest stands in the person of Our Lord and transubstantiates the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of our Divine Savior. This is part of Christ’s great gift to the Church before His Passion, Death and Resurrection.
The Eucharistic passages in the Bible attest to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. So take the time to teach your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews about this unsurpassable gift of love given by Our Lord to His children. Read these compelling, faith building chapters in the New Testament and it will help your heart shout out with joy at Easter; "He has risen, He has truly risen!"
