God’s dream is for us to journey back to him
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Readings: Genesis 14:18-20; Psalm 110, R You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Gospel – Luke 9:11b-17
Fr. Catalino G. Arevalo, S.J. would refer to the Eucharist, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, as the bread of the dream. It is God’s dream for us.
What is God’s dream for us? How do we pursue or make this dream a reality for us? What is the deeper meaning of our dream?
St. Ignatius of Loyola wrote that we are created to attain union with God. This is God’s dream of us. The Son was sent to create for us a path back to God.
In the words of the Zecheriah, “In the tender compassion of our Lord the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1: 76-79)
This is the “stark reality” of God’s dream for us, to journey back to him, to his light, peace, joy and love.
How do we pursue this dream and attain this union with God?
One of the most effective graces we are given to both pursue and attain this dream is the gift of remembering, more specifically the memorial of the Mass.
“Do this in memory of me,” the line from the prayer of consecration that keeps alive the grace of Jesus’ one perfect sacrifice on the Cross and the gift of the Resurrection.
Remembering, this is so central to our journey of faith and “institutionalized” in the Mass.
Power of remembering
The vivid example in the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus showed us the power of remembering.
When the Risen Lord recalled everything that was written about him in scripture, this was when the two disciples started to be reinspired. In their own words, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and [recalled] the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24: 32)
This is the power of the gift of remembering. It makes a difference in our state of being, makes “our hearts burn within us.”
This is the grace of the Mass that brings us closer to God’s dream for us—our union with. In the words of our acclamation of faith at Mass, “When we eat your body and drink your blood, we proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again.”
Our union is one of hopeful and certain expectation that we will be reunited with God when the Lord returns in glory.
This is a radical grace that gives direction to our day-to-day life—set us to the path that Zechariah prophesied, “to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Deeper meaning
It inspires us with hearts burning within which rebooted the two disciples on the road to Emmaus—from despondency and defeat to renewed energy for mission to proclaim that the Lord is Risen.
This is the deeper meaning of God’s dream for us. At every celebration of the Mass, we are renewed, and our hearts burn again with the fire of Jesus love.
This is the deeper meaning of God’s dream proleptically fulfilled at every celebration of the Mass.
“We remember how You loved us to Your death
And still we celebrate, for You are with us here
And we believe that we will see You when You come
In Your glory, Lord, we remember, we celebrate, we believe.”
