Man Does Not Live By Bread Alone

As far as I know, my husband and I are the only Catholics on our block.  We are surrounded by Southern Baptists --- wonderful people who would do anything for you.  Most of them attend not only church on Sunday, but also Bible study during the week.  Their faith means everything to them, and they would love for us to attend their church.  

In spite of all of this, last Sunday, as I walked out of the house to attend Mass, I experienced a profound sense of sorrow and compassion for my neighbors because I was going to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in Communion, and I knew that no matter how powerful the music and the preaching at their church that day, they would not be receiving the Eucharist.

"Man does not live by bread alone!"  What more does he need?  We all know that children who do not receive love fail to thrive, despite being fed regularly.  Even animals need love and attention, and their joy overflows when they know we love them as well as feed them.  An animal in a shelter needs a family; they need adoption, even though they are being cared for physically.

Jesus knew that we would not only crave, but need, the same love and attention He lavished on His apostles and friends while He was on earth.  We were made for adoption into a family -- the family of God.  We were made to share in the Divine Life of the Trinity, and this is what He died to give us.  Although fully human, He also fully lived the Divine Life -- the love and fellowship and joy of the Father and the Holy Spirit.  We were designed for the same experience -- knowing ourselves to be the "beloved," and receiving the joy of adoption:  "Son, all that I have is yours!"

How is it possible for man, who lives exteriorly, to enter into the divine presence and to enjoy the love of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit?  Christ "gave Himself" as our health, as our life.  He put to death on the cross our human nature alienated from fellowship with God, in order to rise as a New Creation -- a man risen from the dead -- and able to enter into Love.  In the Eucharist, we receive -- become one with -- the Risen Christ.  He does not become like we are, but instead, He gradually transforms our mortal bodies into His Risen Body.  

As we die to sin, we are transformed "from glory to glory," able to experience the same fellowship of the Father that He experienced in His mortal body.  He is the only - begotten Son; we are "sons by adoption."  The bread that He gives us is our very life -- not only our physical lives, but our spiritual, emotional, mental, psychological lives.  We experience joy because we have been accepted -- adopted-- into a Family.  We are able to love others as Jesus loves them because they too have been children of God. 

No matter how interesting or uninteresting our church service, it is the same Jesus who gives Himself to us at Mass.  It is His work in us, to change our mortal bodies into His glorious one, that ultimately counts.  We leave Mass changed, whether the music is good or poor, whether the sermon is fantastic or dull!  Christ Himself has become part of us; we have become part of Him!

I wish.....wish......wish with all my heart that my family, friends, and neighbors could come with me and receive this incredible Gift of Eternal LIfe -- to know the Father as the Son knows Him because the Son is in us and transforming us into His very own Person.  We live not by bread alone, but by every Word that comes forth from Him and enters into us -- and by the love and joy He communicates to us by His Presence in us!