Love
is a palpable, tangible reality. Love can be consumed, with our physical
bodies, our flesh and blood, our whole being. It exists between old friends,
family members, a married couple, or our Christian family. It exists in the generosity to the poor
man on the side of the road. It exists in feeding a hungry child, in the care
of an elderly parent, or the fervent prayer for the sinner. Love can be
consumed for our life, our faith, our health and our souls.
Love
is not just a feeling or an act of compassion. It is not altruism, nor any
other philosophy or mental construct. Love is a person. He came in the flesh.
He gave that flesh for the life of the world. His blood was poured out on the
soil of the earth, the dust from which we were made and to which we will
return.
That
Love is inseparable from the physical reality of this world, to which our own
flesh and blood belong. We are no dualists or Gnostics, claiming that our souls
or minds are better than our bodies, because that Love is the Resurrection and
the Life. He is our true food, our true drink. And now, he still gives that
flesh for the life of the world – the Most Holy Eucharist. We can consume him,
his body, blood, soul and divinity. If we let him, he will come in and sup with
us, and we with him.
“I
am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, O Lord, but only say the word and
my soul shall be healed.”
Can
we ask for anything more than you, Jesus?
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