The Catechism refers to the Eucharist as the “source and summit of the Catholic faith” (CCC 1324). It is both source and summit because it is Jesus Christ. Jesus himself is the source of our faith, both who we believe in and why we believe, and he is also the summit of our faith, the goal towards which our life of faith leads.
As he approached the hour of His crucifixion, Jesus celebrated the paschal, Passover, meal with his Apostles and, aware of all that was coming, chose in the midst of that sacred meal, to institute a new celebration, the memorial of His Body and Blood, soon to be handed over for us, for the redemption of the world.
This work of redemption was accomplished on the cross, Jesus dying for the salvation of each one of us. That would have been enough, would have fulfilled the mission of the Incarnation. However, in instituting the Eucharist, Jesus revealed that he wanted to do more than redeem us. He wanted, wants, to remain with us, to be united with us. He was already preparing t make a gift of Himself, giving his very life upon the cross but he also wanted to offer Himself to us in another way, to give His life to us in a way that we can receive, even now today so many years after His earthly life.
In the Eucharistic celebration Jesus provides the means of fulfilling his words, his promise that he would be with us even to the close of the age. In the consecrated Host, under the symbols of bread and wine, Jesus remains truly present to His people. He enables us to approach Him, to receive Him, and to be united to Him, and through Him to the Father and Holy Spirit.
In this we see the depth of His great love for us. He had already provided a path to Heaven, His cross and resurrection had opened wide the gates of Heaven, making a way home for us if we should choose to walk in His pathway. But he was not content to wait for us to make our way home to Him. Rather, He chose to accompany us along the way. In addition to being both source and summit, He is the path that leads between the two and the strength that sustains us along it.
Prose for the sake of Poetry 