“Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you.” These words of Christ said by the priest during Mass express the awesome wonder and transforming grace of the Eucharist. In them, God says to us: “I love you so much that I will become one of you, be broken for you, touch you, and share myself with you to make you whole.” We worship a broken God, given to us in the real presence of the Eucharist, so that we may all become one with Him! The Eucharist is a sacrament of forgiveness and healing, and of blessing and hope. Fr. Matthias Neuman offers an insightful look into how and why Christ gives himself as food and drink. In the gospels, the followers of Jesus are instantly healed by his touch. The gift of the Eucharist is far greater: Christ himself becomes part of each one of us, so that we become the one Body of Christ. Unlike most gifts, this one is absolutely free!

By Rev. Matthias Neuman, O.S.B.