A seraph touched Isaiah's lips with a hot ember from the heavenly altar (Is 6:6). The seraph said: "Now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged" (Is 6:7). Something from heaven touched Isaiah's lips, and his lips were then opened to speak the prophetic word of God.
How blessed we are, for something sent from heaven touches our lips also – the Eucharist, the body of Christ (Jn 6:32-33; Catechism, 1402). Like Isaiah's ember, the Eucharist touches our lips, removes our wickedness, and purges our sin. Jesus indicated this sin-purging capability, telling us, "This is My blood, the blood of the covenant, to be poured out in behalf of many for the forgiveness of sin" (Mt 26:28; see also Catechism, 1846).
The Church teaches: "The Eucharist cannot unite us to Christ without at the same time cleansing us from past sins and preserving us from future sins" (Catechism, 1393), especially "from future mortal sins" (Catechism, 1395). "As bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens our charity, which tends to be weakened in daily life; and this living charity wipes away venial sins" (Catechism, 1394). However, "the Eucharist is not ordered to the forgiveness of mortal sins – that is proper to the sacrament of Reconciliation" (Catechism, 1395).
How could anyone not want to receive the Eucharist frequently, daily if possible? Let Jesus touch your lips and life.
| PRAYER: | Jesus, I dedicate the rest of my life to Your eucharistic body and blood. May I lead thousands into a Eucharistic lifestyle. |
| PROMISE: | "Whoever acknowledges Me before men I will acknowledge before My Father in heaven." –Mt 10:32 |
| PRAISE: | Taking the Eucharist to the shut-ins helped Anthony appreciate Jesus even more. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College