Preparing for Pentecost: Easter Saturday

"Since Christ himself has declared the bread to be his body, who can have any further doubt? Since he himself has said quite categorically, This is my blood, who would dare to question it and say that it is not his blood?"

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Catholic Online) - By Easter is more than a day. It is a season of Resurrection as the Church prepares for the Feast of Pentecost, celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Christian Church.

This is a wonderful time to read the Fathers of the Faith as they encourage, challenge, and call us to a deeper life in Christ. Listen to them as they speak to the Church from across the continuum of history.

During the Season of Easter, Catholic Online will be publishing a daily excerpt of the Fathers taken from the Office of Readings along with questions for reflection. We want to help our online community enter fully into the life and faith that is ours in the Church.

Easter Saturday

Scripture: I Peter 4:12 - 5:14

Reading: From the Jerusalem Catecheses

The Jerusalem Catecheses were written by St. Cyril of Jerusalem, who was born during the time of Constantine in 313 A.D. He was appointed Bishop of Jerusalem in 349. He was banished three times for preaching the fullness of Christ's divinity during a time when some bishops and priests held to the Arian heresy.

The Catecheses were 24 lectures St. Cyril used to instruct new Christians prior to their baptism and initiation into the Church at Easter. He specifically emphasizes the value and efficacy of the Sacrament of Baptism. He also exhorts the candidates concerning the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

The Bread of Heaven and the Cup of Salvation

"On the night he was betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples and said: "Take, eat: this is my body". He took the cup, gave thanks and said: "Take, drink: this is my blood".

Since Christ himself has declared the bread to be his body, who can have any further doubt? Since he himself has said quite categorically, This is my blood, who would dare to question it and say that it is not his blood?

Therefore, it is with complete assurance that we receive the bread and wine as the body and blood of Christ. His body is given to us under the symbol of bread, and his blood is given to us under the symbol of wine, in order to make us by receiving them one body and blood with him.

Having his body and blood in our members, we become bearers of Christ and sharers, as Saint Peter says, in the divine nature.

Once, when speaking to the Jews, Christ said: Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you shall have no life in you. This horrified them and they left him. Not understanding his words in a spiritual way, they thought the Savior wished them to practice cannibalism.

Under the old covenant there was showbread, but it came to an end with the old dispensation to which it belonged. Under the new covenant there is bread from heaven and the cup of salvation. These sanctify both soul and body, the bread being adapted to the sanctification of the body, the Word, to the sanctification of the soul.

Do not, then, regard the eucharistic elements as ordinary bread and wine: they are in fact the body and blood of the Lord, as he himself has declared. Whatever your senses may tell you, be strong in faith.

You have been taught and you are firmly convinced that what looks and tastes like bread and wine is not bread and wine but the body and the blood of Christ. You know also how David referred to this long ago when he sang: Bread gives strength to man's heart and makes his face shine with the oil of gladness. Strengthen your heart, then, by receiving this bread as spiritual bread, and bring joy to the face of your soul.

May purity of conscience remove the veil from the face of your soul so that by contemplating the glory of the Lord, as in a mirror, you may be transformed from glory to glory in Christ Jesus our Lord. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen"

Reflection:

1) St. Cyril's teaching on the Real Presence reminds us of the awesome privilege we are welcomed to experience at the Mass - to receive our Lord Jesus Christ, Body... Blood... Soul... and Divinity... in our communion with Him.

When you receive, do you keep this amazing truth at the forefront of your mind?

As you approach, gaze upon the host. This is not ordinary bread - this is our Lord. He not only declared this but instructed us to remember Him in this manner until He comes again.

2) When St. Cyril talks of the veil placed on the face of our soul, what is he talking about?

One Biblical reference that plays a key role here is the fact that Moses wore a veil over his face after His encounter with God so as not to overwhelm the people with the glory coming forth.

In the New Testament, St. Paul teaches that the veil was continued to be worn in order to hide the fact that the glory had departed.

What are ways we put a veil over our souls so people don't see that our spiritual countenance is not what it should be?

How can the Eucharist aid us in restoring this glory and remove the veil?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Your Son is truly present in the bread and wine which truly become His Body and Blood in the Mass. Help us never to take fore granted the grace that is ours through this Sacrament. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who with You and Holy Spirit be glory now and forever. Amen.

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