Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

What do we picture in our mind when we think of heaven? Clouds, angels with their harps, immense light, the saints, our loved ones, God himself. It is hard to literally imagine a place in our minds when that place is outside of space and time. An image used throughout Church history to describe heaven is that it will be the “wedding feast of the Lamb.” This is rich in theological imagery as Christ is both the bridegroom coming to bring his Bride (the Church) to himself, and the Lamb of God who by offering himself takes away the sins of the world. Yet at the heart of this image is a feast, a banquet. If we think that weddings are a fun affair here on this side of eternity, I can assure you that heavenly banquet is going to be a good time, to say the least.

To further this image, we read in Proverbs all about how wisdom is likened to a banquet that gives joy and happiness. Wisdom invites a person to a metaphorical banquet in which those who receive her wisdom consume and assimilate it. They take wisdom into themselves. There is then the clear imagery of bread and wine that represent the food of wisdom that prefigures the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ, who is the incarnate Wisdom of God.

This is such an important dimension of how we view the person of Christ. He cannot remain just an historical figure who gave us inspiring words, he is alive. And not only is he alive, but he doesn’t wish to be distant from us. Christ does not simply invite us into a relationship with him but wishes to give us his very self for our food. That is a reality much deeper and more intimate than following him as a spiritual leader.

And the crowds hear Jesus preach this message to them. Many are taken aback for they hear these words as an invitation to cannibalism. Christ meant what he said about eating his Flesh and drinking his Blood but in a sacramental way. In the Eucharist, which he would institute at the Last Supper, bread and wine would be changes into his Body and Blood for the spiritual nourishment of the faithful. It was the same evening where he instituted the priesthood, empowering his Apostles and their successors to do the same.

The life that the Eucharist imparts pertains to supernatural life, which binds us ever closer to Christ and actually prepares us for eternity in Heaven. We have the Eucharist as our foretaste of heaven. This spiritual nourishment that is meant to fill our souls with the love and joy of God, that is a glimpse of the eternal perfection and fulfillment that awaits those who love the Lord, particularly in the Eucharist. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass sustains the faithful in this life, but it is also our practice for heaven. Reflect on that reality the next time we ever feel tempted away from this sacrament. The Eucharist is meant to be the source and summit of our faith, and it is our precursor for the life of the world to come.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Brendan