SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Wisdom 12:13, 16-19; Psalm 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16; Romans 8:26-27; Matthew 13:24-30

 

The first reading reminds us that God is God of mercy and also God of justice. 

 

God of mercy:

·       “There is no God besides you who have care for all …”

 

·       “… your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all.”

 

·       “But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much leniency you govern all …”

 

God of justice:

·       “For your might is the source of justice …”

 

·       “You show your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved.”

 

·       “… and in those who know you, you rebuke temerity (disrespect).”

 

We sing in today’s Psalm:

“You, O Lord are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you. … You, O Lord, are merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity.”

 

Yes, God cares for all and is lenient to all; at the same time, he shows his might when his power is disbelieved! We all have testimonies when and where God has shown his power when he is disbelieved.

 

The parable of the weeds among the wheat is a touching story of how an enemy sowed weeds in a wheat field. Note the time when the enemy went to destroy another person’s good work; at night, “While everyone was asleep…” The world would definitely be a better place if those who carry out evil deeds spend such time and effort in doing good works.

 

The question we often ask is, “Why does God not intervene promptly and root out evil and evil people?” That is the same question the servants asked their master, ‘“Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest.”’ We may not be able to unravel the mystery behind the presence of evil in the world, and the mystery of what we often call ‘God’s silence.’

 

The parable concludes, “… then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, ‘First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.’” This means that there is always a time of reckoning when good triumphs over evil; when God shows his justice and his might.

 

Last Sunday, we prayed that God keeps us from thorns of the evil one’s trials, temptations, and machinations, since the thorns are part of life. Today too, we continue to pray that God keeps us from the evil one’s weeds of trials, temptations, and machinations, since the weeds are part of life. The evil one and his agents will never stop planting thorns and sowing weeds. We are, therefore, encouraged to stay strong and not to allow ourselves to be overtaken by the thorns and the weeds of the evil one. St. Paul challenges us in Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” St. Peter encourages us, “Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings” (1 Peter 5:8).

 

Another striking point about the parable is the reaction of the servants and the response of the field owner. The servants wanted to go immediately and pull up the weeds. The servants represent the times we make premature judgements and take premature actions. The field owner, on the other hand, teaches us resilience among weeds and calm in the midst of storm.

 

Our journey through thorns, thistles, weeds, and storms of life is not a journey by “flesh” alone. It is not journey by power and by might. We constantly need spiritual sustenance. For that reason, St. Paul advises us in the second reading to always pray in the Holy Spirit, our Advocate, who intercedes to God on our behalf “with inexpressible groaning.” Our faith is that, despite our sins, weaknesses, and unworthiness, through the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love and mercy of God, and the companionship of the Holy Spirit, victory over the over one is ours. Amen.

 

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm 65:10-14; Romans 8:18-23; Matthew 13:1-9

 

The first reading is Prophet Isaiah’s admonition to the people of Israel to accept the word of God because, not only that it is life-giving, it must surely come to fulfilment. He uses two familiar weather elements, rain and snow, to describe the effects of the word of God. Human beings are the earth watered by the word to make us fertile and fruitful. Without God’s word, human beings become wastelands. May we have the same experience like Jeremiah who exclaimed, “When I found your words, I devoured them; your words were my joy, the happiness of my heart” (Jeremiah 15:16), and the psalmist, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105).

 

In the second reading, St. Paul describes creation’s suffering, pain, and futility until the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, came and set creation free from slavery to corruption in order to share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. Slavery to corruption means to be controlled by moral decay, sin, and destructive habits. The Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, sets free individuals, peoples, groups, communities, organizations, churches, states, countries, and so on, when they listen to the word and accept it.

 

In the gospel, Jesus gives us the Parable of the Sower and, also, its meaning: The word of God is the seed, and we are either the path, or the rocky ground, or among thorns, or the rich soil where the word falls on or where the word is sown. We pray not to be the path, or the rocky ground, or among thorns. We pray to be the rich soil so that we can bear lasting fruit, “a hundred, or sixty or thirty.”

 

We are not to be like the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and theirs scribes who nullify the word of God in favor of human traditions. All human-made laws, rules, and regulations are limited and, at some point, become obsolete. But the word of God is limitless and everlasting. Jesus says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

 

One of the conversion moments of St. Augustine of Hippo was when he was weeping and agonizing over his spiritual struggles in a garden in Milan. Then, he heard a voice that chanted repeatedly from a nearby house, “Tolle, lege” (Latin for “Pick it up and read, pick it up and read”). He picked up the Bible, opened it at random and read the first passage his eyes fell upon, Romans 13:13-14, “Let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.” After reading this passage, St. Augustine experienced a flood of light that cleared his lingering doubts. There and then, he took an immediate decision to fully commit to the Christian faith.

 

The same voice sings to us today, “Pick it up your Bible and read, pick it up your Bible and read.” St. Jerome tells us that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.

 

A friend of my shared with me where he belongs in Jesus’ Parable of the Sower. He said that he does not belong among those who fell on the path because he is steady with his faith and goes to Mass. For the same reason, he does not see himself as among those who fell on rocky ground. He says that he sees himself among those who fell on rich soil but there are thorns all over the rich soil. How not to be choked by the thorns is the problem.

 

Many of us can identify with my friend’s situation. Daily in our way are thorns of trials and temptations, and thorns of evil one’s machinations. Thorns, spiritual or physical, are part of life. Jesus says, “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world” (John 16:33). In John 17:15, Jesus does not pray that God takes us out from the world. He prays that God keeps us from the evil one.

 

We are encouraged, today, to let the word of God dwell richly in us and rule our lives (Colossians 3:16). With God’s word, we are conquerors. With the word of God, we dwell in the shelter of the Most High (Psalm 91:1). “Even though [we] walk through the valley of the shadow of death, [we] will fear no evil, for you are with [us]; your rod and your staff comfort [us]” (Psalm 23:4). Amen.

 

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Zechariah 9:9-10; Psalm 145:1-14; Romans 8:9, 11-13; Matthew 11:25-30

 

The first reading is Prophet Zechariah’s prophecy about the coming of Jesus Christ. As we see in the reading, Zechariah prophesied Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, “See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek, and riding on an ass, a foal of an ass.” In this prophecy, Zechariah recognizes Jesus as king and just savior. Zechariah explains Jesus’ ministry: He will banish the chariot, the horse and warrior’s bow; proclaim peace; and his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. Christianity which is Jesus’ dominion extends from the Sea of Galilee (where he preached) and the River Jordan (where he was baptized) to every part of the world.

 

Our world, at this time, is weighed down by the burdens and yokes of “the chariot, the horse and warrior’s bow” (endless wars, conflicts, and violence). We continue to pray that peace is proclaimed and accepted in places of wars, conflicts, and violence.

 

Jesus came to a people who were burdened and who were under several yokes. They were under the burden and yoke of the Roman colonial masters and corrupt officials. The ordinary people were under the yoke and burden of rules and regulations of the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the lawyers, the scribes, and the chief priests. The Samaritans (Gentiles) were under the burden and yoke of rejection by the Jews. Additionally, many people were also under the burden and yoke of sicknesses and demonic possessions. Very importantly, the whole world, at that time, was under the burden and yoke of sin and in need of salvation. For all these, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

 

Jesus’ invitation is for us. Not only that we are weighed down by all kinds of political, economic, and social burdens and yokes, we are, also, weighed down by all kinds of afflictions. As we work hard physically and struggle to cope with situations around us, we need spiritual sustenance from the Lord. We do not take spiritual sustenance lightly. By “flesh” (human strength) alone, failure is certain.

 

This is why St. Paul encourages us in the second reading not to be “in the flesh;” that is, not to be self-reliant apart from God. St. Paul stresses the importance of keeping God’s Spirit alive in us. Paul says, “If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also…” Jesus says in John 6:63, “It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail.” The Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead is the Holy Spirit. In the Creed we pray, “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life.” The Holy Spirit gives us life by granting us strength to overcome sin, trials, and temptations. We know that God’s Spirit is alive in us by the manifestation of the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Jesus says, “By their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:20).

 

When Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you … For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”  A yoke is a wooden crosspiece fixed on animal’s neck, shoulder, or forehead to pull heavy load/burden or to plow land. Yoke is usually stiff and hard on an animal. Each of us has his or her yoke that enables us to pull and plow through life. Some of us wear stiff and hard yoke. Some of us are pulling heavy burden. This is why Jesus invites us so that he replaces our stiff and hard yoke with his easy yoke, and makes light the burden we pull. It is important to note that Jesus does not promise to remove our yoke and our burden completely. Rather, he promises a replacement. In our prayers, we bring to Jesus our stiff, or stuck, or locked yokes. May he break them, remove them, and replace them. Amen.

 

Also in today’s gospel, Jesus praises God who reveals to little one what he has hidden from the wise and the learned. We pray to God, “Revealer of Secrets” (Daniel 2:47), for divine revelations in whatever way it pleases him. We pray to God to reveal to us the hidden things that we are desiring, seeking, and praying for. May God reveal to us things hidden from us by men and women. May God reveal to us hidden truths. May God reveal to us things hidden from us by unknown forces. Like Jesus, may we praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, as we give testimonies of your divine revelations. Amen and amen.

 

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

2 Kings 4:4-11,14-16; Psalm 89:2-19; Romans 6:3-4, 8-11; Gospel 10:37-42

The first reading is from 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16. However, verses 12-13 (omitted) have an important message. It reads, “He [Elisha] told his servant Gehazi to go and call the woman. When she came, he said to Gehazi, ‘Ask her what I can do for her in return for all the trouble she has had in providing for our needs. Maybe she would like me to go to the king or army commander and put in a good word for her.’ ‘I have all I need here among my own people,’ she answered.”

 

The woman and her husband provided for Elisha and his servant. They did this out of their generosity and goodwill and did not expect anything in return. When she was asked what she needed (as a reward), she said that she needed nothing. She said, “I have all I need here among my own people.” She did not need any favors from the army commander or the king. She did not even ask for prayer for herself to conceive and have a child. It was Elisha’s servant who asked for a child on her behalf.

 

In 1 King 17:7-16, the widow of Zarephath fed Elijah from a handful of flour and a little jar of oil, the only food that remained for the widow and her son, which according to the widow, “when we have eaten it, we shall die” due to the famine. She got her reward. “She was able to eat for a year, and Elijah and her son as well; the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry…” God rewards generous and goodwill people!

 

Jesus tells us in today’s gospel, “Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. Whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple… will surely not lose his reward.”

 

It is important that we express gratitude to those who pay their tithe to the Church; those who give various kinds of donations to the Church, to Church missions and establishments for the work of evangelization; those who sponsor the training of seminarians; and those who volunteer for all kinds of mission work and services in the Church far and near and do not expect any material reward in return.

 

We also pray for governments, churches, organizations, and individuals who, generously, undertake works of mercy and charity to helping and supporting the needy in our community, the society, and the world.

 

May God who rewarded the Shunamite woman and her husband and the widow of Zarephath reward all generous and goodwill people. Psalm 20:3 prays, “May God remember your every offering, and graciously accept your burnt offering.” In Luke 6:38, Jesus promises, “Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” St. Francis of Assisi says, “For it is in giving that we receive.”

 

The message today challenges our world driven by the selfishness, self-interest, self-seeking, and self-serving attitudes of ‘What’s in it for me?’ and ‘string attached mentality,’ which can be known as “Judas Mentality.” Judas asked the chief priests, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” (Matthew 26:15). Sadly, the age-old sins of ‘What’s in it for me?’ and ‘string attached mentality’ pervade all areas of human existence and have brought so much horror and pain to humanity. Many human-made disasters, far and near, are caused by the sin of ‘What’s in it for me?’

 

In today’s gospel, Jesus says, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Jesus is referring to selfishness, self-interest, self-seeking, and self-serving attitudes. Jesus continues, “… and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Jesus is referring to self-love attitude.

 

We are invited to examine our relationships and dealings, and see where we have offended God and our fellow human beings by sins of selfishness, self-interest, self-seeking, self-serving, and self-love. St. Paul tells us in the second reading to die to these sins in order to become worthy of Christ and live “for God in Christ.”

 

The Shunamite woman and her husband, and the widow of Zarephath who provided for the prophets without expecting anything in return are great models of generosity and goodwill we can imitate.

 

Human beings may not be able to reward. Human beings may even fail to remember. God remembers. God rewards. “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

 

TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Jeremiah 20:10-13; Psalm 69:10-17, 33-35; Romans 5:12-15; Matthew 10:26-33

 Jeremiah was one of the prophets God sent to prophesy to the people of Israel to turn from their sinful ways or they would face divine judgment. Jeremiah prophesied that since the people had failed to repent of their evil ways, a foreign power was going to conquer them, take them captives, and destroy the temple and Jerusalem. For such prophecy, Jeremiah was persecuted and was nearly killed. The first reading is a prayer of Jeremiah while he was being persecuted. Jeremiah teaches us to commit our persecutors into God’s hand. He prayed:

 “But the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not prevail. In their failure, they will be put to utter shame, to lasting, unforgettable confusion. …  Let me see the vengeance you take on them, for to you, I have entrusted my cause. Sing to the Lord, … For he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the evildoers! (Jeremiah 20:11-13).

 Jeremiah represents messengers of truth everywhere who are persecuted, or silenced, or eliminated: in families, neighborhoods, groups, workplaces, institutions, organizations, churches, countries, and so on.

 Today’s gospel is Jesus’ encouragement to his apostles to be fearless in proclaiming the Good News. He reminded them that, later on, their witnessing the Good News would attract persecution. He encouraged them not to be discouraged because their sustenance would come from God.

 Violent persecution of Christians is going on in several parts of the world. In those places, Christians are killed, church buildings and properties are burned down or destroyed. Christians’ rights and privileges are denied them or taken away from them. We pray for the Christians who stay strong in those places and dangerous conditions.

 Another type of persecution is anti-Christian policies whereby anti-Christian foundations are being dismantled. Christian principles, values, symbols, education, and identifications are condemned as offensive and removed. The adverse effects of the anti-Christian actions on the society are obvious. It is clearly seen in the rise of all kinds of crimes and crises. Someone says, “Life without Christ is Crises.”

 Jesus tells us in today’s gospel not to be afraid or discouraged. Jesus says, “… Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul … Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father…” By this statement, Jesus promises rewards to those who remain witnesses during persecution.

 Jesus’ encouragement to those persecuted does not dismiss the fact that it is the responsibility of governments to protect the citizens from kidnapping, torture, abuses, destruction, and mindless killings by persecutors. It is heartbreaking to see governments persecuting their own citizens, and governments being collaborators and accomplices with persecutors’ heinous persecutions and crimes as it is the case in Nigeria.

 According to a news report, between 2015 and 2025, at least 212 Catholic priests were kidnapped in Nigeria. 15 were murdered. The real number of cases is certainly higher. These figures do not include the religious men and women, and leaders of other Christian denominations who suffered the same fate. Countless number of churches and church properties were burned down or destroyed. The exact number of hundreds of communities destroyed and displaced people is not known. The persecution is continuing unabated in 2026.

 However, it is easy for us to see persecution out there but fail to see persecution within (amongst ourselves). Do we intentionally and knowingly persecute others by our words and actions?

 Jesus promises us in today’s gospel that all the hairs of our heads are counted and that we are not to be afraid. We earnestly pray for God’s divine intervention in the lives of victims of persecution and violence.

 Let us conclude with Prophet Jeremiah’s prayer in the first reading:

 “The Lord is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not prevail. In their failure, they will be put to utter shame, to lasting, unforgettable confusion. …  Let me see the vengeance you take on them, for to you, I have entrusted my cause. Sing to the Lord, … For he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the evildoers!” Amen.

ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2026 BY FR MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Exodus 19:2-6; Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 5; Romans 5:6-11; Matthew 9:36-10:8

 In the first reading, God sent Moses to speak to the Israelites: “If you hearken to my voice and keep to my covenant, you shall be my special possession…” We know that many times, the Israelites chose something else to possess them and did not hearken to God’s voice nor kept his covenant. The consequences of their choices brought them a lot of difficulties. For instance, the first reading of Saturday’s morning Mass says, “They forsook the temple of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and began to serve the sacred poles and idols; and because of this crime of theirs, wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 24:18).

 

It is our own story too. Whatever possesses us controls us. For instance, one who is possessed by anger, is controlled by it. One who is possessed by envy and jealousy, is controlled by them. One who is possessed by hate, is controlled by it. One who is possessed by pornography, is controlled by it. One who is possessed by power, is controlled by it. One who is possessed by money, is controlled by it. One who is possessed by alcohol, is controlled by it. One who is possessed by laziness, is controlled by it. One who is possessed by immorality, is controlled by it. One who is possessed by grief or depression or despair is controlled by them. One who is possessed by gadgets is controlled by them. One who is possessed by worldly life, is controlled it. One who is possessed by any addiction, is controlled by it. One who is possessed by the evil one, is controlled by the evil one. And so on. Our actions are the result of the spirit, or the vice, or whatever that possesses us. Ungodly possessions cause spiritual blindness and deafness to what God wants us to see and hear. Ungodly possessions corrupt the mind and harden the heart and prevent goodness from prevailing.

 

On the other hand, one who is possessed by goodness and the Spirit of God is controlled by them. The person hears God’s voice and is godly in his or her words and actions. St. Paul speaks of this where he instructs about the one who possesses the Holy Spirit and yields the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). There are other fruits that are not mentioned by St. Paul that are alluded in today’s gospel.

 

The second reading is very encouraging to us. No one’s case is hopeless. When we are off the rails due of our ungodly and immoral possessions, we come to Jesus who reconciles us to God. Jesus brings back our wheels on the rails. All evils are due to remaining in ungodly and immoral possessions and refusing to receive the message of salvation and reconciliation.

 

In the gospel, Jesus sends us to continue the message of salvation and reconciliation. He gives us authority over spiritual and physical possessions in us and in others; to drive out unclean spirits and to cure every disease and every illness. He says to us, “Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.” In the mission, Jesus warns us, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” By this statement, Jesus instructs us to be focused on the mission and not deviate or be distracted. Jesus adds, “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” Which means, to act with pure, selfless generosity and service, without keeping score or worrying about what one might lose, sacrifice, or receive in return. We pray for God’s grace to enable us to accept this instruction and obey it.

 

 In the first reading, God sent Moses to the Israelites. In the second reading God sent Jesus to the world. In the gospel, Jesus sent his apostles to the lost house of Israel. We are the ‘Moses.’ We are the ‘apostles.’ We are Jesus’ disciples. We are the ‘laborers.’ We pray for the grace to recognize our calling and to embrace it. As God sends us, let us not be like the biblical young man “who went away sad, for he had many possessions” (Matthew 19:22).

 

We pray for an increase in the vocations of the clergy and the religious who are special laborers of the harvest. In the gospel, Jesus tells us one of the reasons to pray, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.” These special laborers are a “chosen race.” They are “a people set apart.” We pray that they may be possessed and controlled by the Holy Spirit. We pray that they may be a “holy nation.” Amen.

 

Jesus’s heart was moved with pity when he saw the troubled and the abandoned crowd. May his heart be moved with pity for many of us who are even more troubled by our various dire needs and desires. “O Lord, come to our assistance, O Lord, make haste to help us” (Psalm 70:1).

 

CORPUS CHRISTI (THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST), YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6:51-58

 The Last Supper was the first Eucharistic celebration. Jesus took the bread, said the blessing (gave thanks), broke it, and gave it to his apostles and said “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise, the cup and said “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.” Every Eucharistic celebration is a re-enactment of the first celebration. This is the reason priests repeat Jesus’ words in every Mass. St. Paul says in the second reading that our celebration is a participation in the Body and Blood of Christ. Jesus commands us to break the bread and share the cup in memory of his sacrifice for us. This is why the Mass is called Eucharistic Sacrifice. Every Eucharistic celebration is our obedience to this command. This command is Jesus’ last will. Just as we take people’s last will seriously, more so, we take Jesus’ last will very seriously.

 

Jesus did not say, “It is like my body.” Or, “It resembles my body.” Or, “It is in place of my body.” He said, “This is my body.” “This is my blood.” This is why we believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. This is why we adore the Eucharist in the Tabernacle and when it is exposed. Jesus is no longer physically with us; however, he is spiritually present with us in the Eucharist. He says, “I am with you always to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

 

In Latin, the priest ends the celebration by saying, “Ite missa est,” literally meaning, “Go, you are sent forth.” The Eucharistic celebration is commonly called Mass. The word “Mass” is a coinage from “missa” in “Ite missa est.”

 

The word Eucharist is derived from the Greek word “eucharistein,” which means thanksgiving; referring to Jesus’ action at the Last Supper: he took the bread and the cup and gave thanks. Every Eucharistic celebration is a thanksgiving to God for the gift of Jesus Christ, for our salvation, for the eternal life we have received by his death and resurrection, for the continued spiritual presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, and the Eucharist being our spiritual food, which nourishes and empowers us for our earthly journey.

 

The Eucharistic celebration, which the Church calls Sacred Mysteries, is the highest prayer of the Catholic Church. The Vatican II Document states that the Eucharistic sacrifice is the source and summit of the Christian life (LG 11). In the celebration of the Eucharist are the interaction, activity, communion, and union of earth and heaven of which the high point is during the consecration of bread and wine which become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. All prayers of the Eucharistic celebration reveal the interaction, activity, communion, and union of earth and heaven. If we really ponder on the prayers and songs and actions and movements during the celebration, we will be overcome with awe and wonder.

 

Preparation of the Gifts: When the priest or the deacon mixes a drop of water into the chalice of wine, he prays quietly, “By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.”

 

From Offertory Prayer of Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, no. 3: “… grant that through this most holy exchange we may advance towards eternal redemption.”

 

From Eucharistic Prayer, no.1: “In humble prayer we ask you, almighty God: command that these gifts be borne by the hands of your holy Angel to your altar on high in the sight of your divine majesty, so that all of us, who through this participation at the altar receive the most holy Body and Blood of your Son, may be filled with every grace and heavenly blessing.”

 

From Eucharistic Prayer no. 2: “You are indeed Holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness. Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray, by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall, so that they may become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

The Eucharist is the most distinctive mark of the Catholic Church and at the center of the Catholic faith. We must guard it with pride, respect, honor, and reverence. Someone advised priests and indeed all of us, “Take each Mass as your first Mass, your last Mass, and your only Mass.” This is to emphasize that every Mass requires our prayerful maximum attention and participation.

 

We are to receive the Eucharist worthily and must not disregard St. Paul’s advice in 1 Corinthians 11:28-29, “Let each one, then, examine himself before eating of the bread and drinking of the cup. Otherwise, he drinks his own condemnation in not recognizing the body.” This is why the Sacrament of Reconciliation helps us to prepare for the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

 

Jesus is the living bread who gives us spiritual nourishment now and grants us eternal life after our journey on earth. Because he lives, we also live (John 14:19). Whether we receive the Word or the Eucharist, we are bearers of Jesus Christ. This is a deep and profound responsibility. This is why St. Augustine cautions us, “Behold what you are, become what you receive.” By this statement, St. Augustine challenges us to align our daily thoughts, actions, and character in the imitation of Christ.

 

The salvation of those who do not believe in The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is a mystery we cannot fully understand or explain. But for us believers, we pray that through the interaction, communion, and union with the heavenly powers in the Eucharistic celebration (most holy exchange), we my experience its transforming power and testify our own Eucharistic miracles. Amen and amen.