The One and Only Living Bread—Jesus Is the Person You Receive 

The Last Supper alone is not sufficient for the institution of the Eucharist. For the words that Jesus spoke then are an anticipation of His death, a transformation of His death into an event of love, a transformation of what is meaningless into something that is significant. 

“The death would remain empty of meaning and would also render the words meaningless if the Resurrection had not come about, whereby it is made clear that these words were spoken with divine authority, that His love is indeed strong enough to reach out beyond death. 

“The words of institution alone are not sufficient, the death alone is not sufficient; and even both together are still insufficient, but have to be complemented by the Resurrection, in which God accepts His death and makes it the door into a new life. 

“What we receive [in the Eucharist] is a person. But this person is the Lord Jesus Christ, both God and man. What is given us here is not a piece of a body, not a thing, but Him, the Resurrected One Himself—the person who shares Himself with us in His love, which runs right through the Cross.” —Pope Benedict XVI, God is Near Us 

Silent Reflection and Discernment 

The Church tells us that all these actions: the words of Christ, His death, His resurrection, are still incomplete without your participation. How does this teaching impact your understanding of the Mass or influence your attitude toward Mass? 

The Practice of Eucharistic Spirituality 

The Mystical Humanity of Christ is the practice of Eucharistic Spirituality. It is living with a heightened awareness of the living indwelling presence of Jesus in the ordinary circumstances of daily life. 

As you look to the Saints as role models who help shape your choices, remember, like them you encounter Jesus in your life—You receive the Same “Living Bread.” And you take Jesus with you wherever you go. In that way you become the saint for others to emulate. 

Silent Reflection and Discernment 

In what way can others imitate you, fully aware that you are a person who, like Saint Paul, imitates Christ?