Eucharistic Living

One way or another, we are called to eat at the Lord’s Table as a way of life. This is surely contained in the words, “Give us this day our daily bread.” It is surely front and center of Jesus saying, “I am the Bread of Life”. We can see this in, “You prepare a Table before me in the presence of my enemies.”

Olivier Clement writes concerning the Church Fathers:

“The Eucharist not only establishes the existence of the Church and the communion of Christians among themselves, but determines the manner in which these are present in the world. For everyone is called 'to give thanks in all circumstances' (1 Thessalonians 5:8), to become a 'eucharistic person'. Making the Eucharist part of oneself, especially by the invocation of the name of Jesus, is one of the fundamental themes of Christian spirituality. The eucharistic celebration is an apprenticeship in new relations among people, and between people and things; it cannot but have a prophetic dimension.”

Clement then quotes Chrysostom:

“Do you wish to honour the body of the Saviour? Do not despise it when it is naked. Do not honour it in church with silk vestments while outside you are leaving it numb with cold and naked. He who said, 'This is my body', and made it so by his word, is the same that said, 'You saw me hungry and you gave me no food. As you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' Honour him then by sharing your property with the poor. For what God needs is not golden chalices but golden souls.”

Chrysostom On Matthew, Homily 50.3