Today, Catholics celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, commemorating the institution of the sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and of the Holy Orders. It is the beginning of the Triduum, the unfolding of events that lead up to the Lord’s glorious resurrection on Easter.
Catholics have a number of beliefs that are a scandal and a stumbling block for many. In fact, these beliefs are what led to Christ being crucified. The bread and wine we receive during Mass are not bread and wine. These are in fact the Body and Blood of Christ! That defies all logic and what my senses are telling me. There is more. Present in the the bread and wine transformed into body and blood is the God who has saved me from my sinfulness. Now, this is getting harder and harder to believe, much more to understand.
How about this? This man who gave us His body and blood to eat has promised to rise from the dead. And He promised that we will also rise from the dead like He did; that he will give us eternal live; that we will live forever with Him in a new life.
And it does not stop there. This man is actually God who took on our humanity so that we can share in His divinity. There are three persons in Him but He is one. He is not some distant deity watching us like some toys to amuse Him. He is with us every moment looking after us and He loves each one of us with an infinite love.
All of these beliefs and facts are hard to swallow and accept. But I have seen Him active in my life not to believe His presence and His love. There is no compelling reason for me to be here and yet I am here. There are so many possible things that could have happened in my life and yet blessings and graces have been coming my way in ways and measures I cannot explain unless I accept that He is guiding my life. There are too many things inexplicable unless I accept His presence in my life.