Day: April 2, 2017

Lenten Reflection – 2 April 2017

The Eucharist, Our Sanctification
Fr Raniero Cantalamessa

“We must start practising what we have said as soon as we come out from Mass.   We must really make the effort, each one within his or her own limits, to offer our “bodies” to our brethren and that is to say, our time, energy and attention–in a word, our lives. When Jesus had pronounced the words:  “Take… this is my body; take… this is my blood,”    He didn’t allow much time to pass before doing what He had promised: a few hours later He gave His life and blood on the Cross.    Otherwise, it’s all just empty words, lies.    Therefore, after saying to our brothers and sisters: “Take, eat,” we must really allow ourselves to be “eaten” and especially by those who do not act with the gentleness and kindness we expect.    Jesus said: “What merit have you got if you love only those that love you, greet only those that greet you, invite only those that invite you? Everyone does this” (cf. Matt 5:46-47).    On his way to Rome where he was to die a martyr, St. Ignatius of Antioch wrote: “I am the grain of Christ; that I may be ground by the teeth of wild beasts to become pure bread for the Lord.”   If we think about it, each one of us will realise that there are sharp teeth grinding us: criticisms, contrasts, hidden or open oppositions, different ideas in those surrounding us, differences in character.   We should even be grateful to those who help us like this.   They are of infinitely more benefit to us than those who approve or flatter us.   In another letter, the same holy martyr wrote: “Those that praise me, scourge me.”

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