And it happened that, while he was with them at table,
he took bread, said the blessing,
broke it, and gave it to them.
With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him,
but he vanished from their sight.
Jesus reveals himself to us in the Eucharist. In his Body and Blood we receive the Risen Christ, not dead flesh. Because of this the Eucharist heals us of our doubts. This is the same spotless lamb who ransomed us with his precious blood. But his body was not abandoned to the netherworld. So receiving we proclaim, "We have seen the LORD!"
Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted;
my flesh, too, will dwell in hope,
because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption.
What we taste in the Eucharist is the Resurrection. Because of this the Eucharist renews our faith. It renews our hope as well, our hope that God will not abandon us to the netherworld either, that we will one day rise as well. We taste our future in the Eucharist because it unites us to Jesus and promises the even deeper union we will one day know.
The Eucharist not only renews our faith and our hope, but also our love and charity. It is the flesh and blood that ransoms us from our futile conduct handed on by our ancestors. United with Jesus we are no longer slaves to the fear of death. We are no longer slaves to the selfishness that such fear creates. We are free to love as Jesus himself loves.
You will show me the path to life,
abounding joy in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
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