The Wonderful Mystery of the Eucharist

Growing up as a Catholic, I've always gone to Mass every Sunday. I knew all the prayers and I sang along to all of the songs. But looking back, I never really enjoyed it or truly understood the beauty of the Mass. Especially the Eucharist. I never really thought of it as actually being Jesus' body and blood. I mean, it just looks like bread and wine. But that is kind of the point. How could it possibly by the body of Jesus himself? it is only something that God can do. Well, I've grown to learn that there is quite a bit of history about  the Eucharist that goes way back. Even in the years BC, before Jesus Christ was born onto this earth. 

In the Gospel of John 6:31-35, God provided manna to the Israelites when they travelled through the desert for forty years."Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." "Sir," they said, "always give us this bread." Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." The manna that God has given them from heaven is a precursor to the Holy Eucharist. It strengthened the Israelites when they were weak and hungry just like how Holy Communion strengthens us spiritually, even if we may not realize it. I began to think that maybe there's more to the Eucharist than I thought there was if God hinted to it even in the time of Moses.

The most holy and venerable Jesus Christ