Take, Bless, Break, Share: Living the Eucharistic Mystery

As we gathered to celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, we were called to remember Jesus, who sacrificed His life for us. He proclaimed, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever” (John 6:35, 58). This reminds us that through the Eucharist, we receive not just physical sustenance, but eternal life.

This solemnity commemorates the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. On that sacred night, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it and shared it with His disciples, establishing the sacrament that would become the source and summit of our Catholic faith. In receiving His body and blood, we enter into an intimate spiritual union with Christ.

As we reflect on this mystery, we are reminded of three core beliefs that underlie our faith: First, that Jesus, the Son of God, humbled Himself to become human and suffer for our salvation, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16). Second, the doctrine of the Holy Trinity – one God in three divine persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And third, the central role of the Eucharist as the paramount celebration of Christ’s real presence in the Church.

We can bring the Eucharistic actions of taking, blessing, breaking and sharing into our daily lives by incorporating the following practices: we take all our joys and sufferings to God through prayer, asking Him to bless them. We seek God’s blessing on our efforts and intentions, turning them into actions that reflect His love. We break our blessings into actions by using our gifts to serve others. Finally, we share our blessings with others, promoting generosity and fostering a sense of community. By living out these actions, we embody the spirit of the Eucharist in our everyday lives.

Ultimately, the Eucharist is a sacrament of unity, binding us together as one body in Christ. As Jesus prayed, “that they may all be one” (John 17:21). When we receive the Eucharist, we become one flesh with our Saviour who makes His presence substantially real in the form of bread and wine. In this sacred banquet, there is no competition, for we all worship and receive the same Lord who desires to nourish and transform us.

Here are some photos from the celebration: