Mysteries Of LightSample

"The Institution of the Eucharist"

In this, the fifth mystery that we are invited to consider, we hear the stunning conversation between Jesus and the crowd, searching and longing to believe and be fed.

By instituting the Eucharist, Jesus demonstrates the ongoing nature of God as our provider.

The conversation is challenging for us; Jesus tries to help the people to see Him as the sign and not to look for other signs to base their belief on.

It is a simple mistake that we often fall into in moments of doubt - I will ask God to do something and then that will help me believe in him more.

The challenge is to simply believe in Him and to allow him to be in control. This request for a sign usually occurs when we doubt the most - it is actually then that the challenge is to step out in faith.

Jesus says over and over that he is the bread that comes down from heaven, reminding us that he is fulfilling the will of the Father.

We are reminded that Jesus is not the destination of our journey. He is the way to the Father. He is the one who shows us the Father.

The Father, our creator, is the destination of our journey.
Jesus offers himself to us as the fulfilment of all our needs.

He is our food, and we are invited to ‘consume’ him and be nourished by him. We are reminded of the quote from Saint Augustine about ‘becoming what we eat.’

We become truly the body of Christ. We are unified with both Christ, our Father in heaven, the Holy Spirit, and the rest of our Christian family.

This is truly a mind-boggling thought and, like all mysteries, is both simple to say and yet impossible to fully grasp.

Take some time saying a simple prayer repeatably whilst you ponder this.