"Have you anything here to eat?”
Did you ever notice how many of the resurrection appearances of Jesus involve food? The Gospels report seven different resurrection appearances. Four of them involve a meal.
Mark reports that Jesus appeared to the disciples while they were at table.
Luke tells the story of being with the two disciples on their way to Emmaus, and when they got there, they sat down to supper, and that's when they recognized Jesus.
In today's passage from Luke, Jesus asks if they have anything to eat, and he enjoys some baked fish.
John's Gospel describes an appearance on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Seven of the disciples come in from fishing and there is Jesus cooking some bread and fish on a charcoal fire. And he says to them, "Come, have breakfast."
Four of the seven appearances involve food. Through his appearances Jesus wanted to teach that he is still present to us and, most important, he is not present simply to be looked at, simply to be adored. He came to engage us, to connect with us, and to draw us into his living and dying and passing through death to life. Jesus ate with his disciples the night before he died. And he continues to do the same thing after he rises from the dead.
Think for a moment: it’s one thing to be part of a crowd when a great celebrity comes to town and to se and to see him or her in person. You might even get to shake hands with them. But... to have a meal with them. What a difference. There's something about having dinner with a person.
So when you come to the Eucharist, always think of those meals the Risen Lord shared with his disciples. He is doing the same thing with us. I like to picture that scene in John's Gospel when seven of the disciples land their fishing boat on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. The Risen Lord is standing on the shore waiting for them. The text reads: "When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread." Then Jesus says to them: "Come, have breakfast." Just picture that scene, and catch the spirit of it, and you understand what we are going at Eucharist.
Prayer
Lord, Father all-powerful and ever-living God, I thank You, for even though I am a sinner, your unprofitable servant, not because of my worth but in the kindness of your mercy, You have fed me with the Precious Body & Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
I pray that this Holy Communion may not bring me condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and salvation.
May it be a helmet of faith and a shield of good will.
May it purify me from evil ways and put an end to my evil passions.
May it bring me charity and patience, humility and obedience, and growth in the power to do good.
May it be my strong defense against all my enemies, visible and invisible, and the perfect calming of all my evil impulses, bodily and spiritual.
May it unite me more closely to you, the One true God, and lead me safely through death to everlasting happiness with You.
And I pray that You will lead me, a sinner, to the banquet where you, with Your Son and holy Spirit, are true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end, and perfect happiness to your saints. grant this through Christ our Lord,
Amen.
- St. Thomas Aquinas
Fr. Vidal Martinez, OSM
