It is part of our human nature that we do not readily recognize and appreciate the generosity of others when it is shown unexpectedly. The experience of the pandemic is a testament to God’s generosity. The Eucharist is about the generosity of God to His beloved people. Whether the Eucharistic celebration is actual or digital (livestreamed), Christ wants us to share in His own life, and for this, He wants to give Himself to us as food and drink. He makes himself bread and wine to satisfy our hunger and thirst for God.

When the government had the initiative to give “ayuda” (assistance) to people in this time of the pandemic, many people took the risk of going outside from their homes to get their share of financial support distributed to them in their respected barangays. There was hunger and need in their eyes. Is there a similar hunger and longing in our eyes as we are prevented to go to churches to attend physically the Eucharistic celebration.

Human as we are, we need to satisfy our hunger through food, perhaps bread, rice, and some viand. But the Lord knows that we need more than these to truly live. So, in the Eucharist, He gives us Himself, God and man, that we may live. In this trying time, our faith is challenged by the struggles brought by this pandemic. All celebrations are held online or by a limited number of people. But if we would only receive Jesus with great faith and trust, and allow Him to do His work in us, how different our world would be. The challenge of the Gospel today is to let our hearts welcome Christ and so possess us that we may be able to say like St. Paul, “I live, now not I, but Christ lives in me” (Gal.2:20).

By Sem. Glicerio T. Tano

Today’s Gospel

Mk 14:12-16,22-26

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
when they sacrificed the Passover lamb,
Jesus’ disciples said to him,
“Where do you want us to go
and prepare for you to eat the Passover?”
He sent two of his disciples and said to them,
“Go into the city and a man will meet you,
carrying a jar of water.
Follow him.
Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house,
‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room
where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”‘
Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready.
Make the preparations for us there.”
The disciples then went off, entered the city,
and found it just as he had told them;
and they prepared the Passover.
While they were eating,
he took bread, said the blessing,
broke it, gave it to them, and said,
“Take it; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them,
and they all drank from it.
He said to them,
“This is my blood of the covenant,
which will be shed for many.
Amen, I say to you,
I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine
until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Then, after singing a hymn,
they went out to the Mount of Olives.