Communion becomes both
nourishment and medicine

(Editor’s note: During the Year of the Eucharist the West River Catholic will run a series of articles on the Eucharist. The first installment is the last homily given by the late Deacon Ed Gravel in September 1997. His homily was based on the readings from the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary time Proverbs 9:1-6, Ephesians 5:15-20, and John 6:51-58. The second part comes from Father Dale Kutil of Ft. Pierre as he faces the test of terminal cancer and finds strength in the Eucharist. Father Ron Garry, Philip, wrote the second section.)

    I ask you to think of a time when you or your parents invited someone over to your home. What did you do? How did you act? If you are like most people, you tidied up the place a bit, making it look good and presentable, and if it was a special occasion, such as a birthday or anniversary or Christmas, you probably prepared a meal. You were hospitable. You did everything you could to make your guests feel comfortable.

    That’s the situation in the first reading. We find Lady Wisdom preparing a banquet of fine food and wine, and the invitation is extended to everyone to come and be physically nourished. But there is more to the invitation. They are also invited to enter into a deeper understanding of God (and so are we). We are invited to set aside our ignorance and come with nothing more than good will and humility, being honest, open, and willing to learn and respect the moral standards of God.

    In a way, Lady Wisdom is preparing them and us for the really meaningful nourishment which is to come, and she does this with enthusiasm and in a welcoming manner. As we prepare for our guests to come to our table, Lady Wisdom prepares her guests to come to God’s table.

    The second reading from Ephesians warns us to be watchful, so that we may know the will of God. We are in a continual process of learning and understanding more about God. While learning, we need to recognize there is evil in this world and we must always be careful to avoid the many occasions to sin, and at the same time make the most of every opportunity to do good, so that we may have a disposition suitable to fully enter into the liturgical celebration.

    That brings us to today’s Gospel, which contains those powerful words: “I myself am the living bread come down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he shall live forever; the bread I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.” This statement was difficult for the Jews, and I think it is also difficult for us to understand. Jesus goes on to say, “Let me solemnly assure you, if you do not eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.”

    The Jews hear this, and understand that Jesus means exactly what he says, but they can’t believe what he says could be true. They were repulsed at the thought of eating his flesh, and the Law of Moses prohibits drinking the blood of any animal. How do we, as Catholics, some 2000 years later, understand this invitation of Jesus to eat his flesh and drink his blood? Some of our Protestant brethren would say, “It is only symbolic,” but even though the consecrated Eucharist still looks and tastes like bread and wine, we Catholics (through faith) KNOW that the consecrated Eucharist is in fact truly the body and blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

    Jesus stresses very forcefully that it is necessary to receive him in the Eucharist in order to share in eternal life. We gathered here today, as a community of believers, as members of the Body of Christ, to hear the Word of God, and to share with one another at the table of the Lord. This is the banquet that Jesus invites us to. He becomes our REAL NOURISHMENT.

    In the same way as bodily food is necessary for life on Earth, the Eucharist is necessary for maintaining the life of the soul. The term “communion” suggests we share in the life of Christ and become one with him. We will never be able to understand the “intimate union” that he wishes to share with us. When we receive communion, we receive the Lord himself. Christ gives us the very body which he gave up for us on the cross, and the very blood he poured out for the forgiveness of our sins. This sacrament of the Eucharist is the true Body of Christ and his true Blood. It is something that our intellect can’t comprehend. It is something we accept only by faith. St. Cyril of Alexandria (a Doctor of the Church) says, “Do not doubt whether this is true, but rather receive the words of the Savior in faith, for since He is the Truth, he cannot lie.”

    In a few minutes, we will continue this eucharistic celebration. The priest will preside over us, the assembly. Christ himself presides (invisibly) over this eucharistic celebration. The priest, acting in the person of Christ, will recite those words which change this bread and wine into the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. When we come to the altar to receive communion, we should do so with extreme reverence, because we are truly receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. He gives us the gift of himself.

    In closing, I invite you to pay close attention to the words of consecration during the eucharistic prayer, and use this occasion to renew your understanding and reverence of the Eucharist, which is truly the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

    The priests of Deanery Four gathered in the Ft. Pierre rectory on August 19 for a discussion of the upcoming Year of the Eucharist. We gathered at Father Dale Kutil’s kitchen table, because it’s the most comfortable place for him as he struggles for breath with the cancer growing around his lungs.

    We talked about the proposed programs and how we might deepen our love for Jesus in the Eucharist.

    Then we asked Dale to talk about his health, knowing that he opted not to undergo chemo or radiation therapy.

    “Communion is my chemo,” he said, “Jesus is my divine healer.”
“When I went to see my oncologist for the diagnosis, Bishop (Blase) Cupich came to be with me. I anticipated that this cancer would kill me, and I was okay with that. But when the bishop anointed me and I received Communion, I was really okay. To receive our Lord in Communion is very touching and healing, even if it’s not a cure. When we receive the Eucharist, we are placed in the hands of God, in his healing power. It’s a healing of the soul.

    “One of the things I knew I would miss as I lose abilities is being able to take Communion to the shut-ins on First Friday. It’s so good to talk with the people on a different level. It’s so good to hear them say, ‘thanks for coming on First Friday. I was waiting for you.’

    “We’ve neglected the importance of Communion to homebound people. The Eucharist is an important gift to the homebound.

    “After Mass, Father Gary DeRouche of Pierre brings me Communion. The Precious Blood tastes sweeter now that I’m sick. After I receive, I say, ‘Lord, you’re my chemo today.’

    “In my years as a priest, the Eucharist has been the center of my life. The best gift God gave me is the ability to give Jesus to another.