15 Biblical Meditations for Eucharistic Adoration

FR. ED BROOM, OMV

One of the many channels that can be utilized to augment our faith, devotion,
and love for the most Holy Eucharist is by reading and meditating upon key
Biblical passages, both in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament.
The Old Testament presents symbols or what Bible scholars term Types or  Biblical
Typology  of references or allusions to the Eucharist that become a reality in the
New Testament.

In other words, what is present in hidden, mysterious, and symbolic form in the
Old Testament breaks out in transparent Truth in the New Testament.

This being said, we will start with Old Testament Biblical types of the Mass,
Eucharist, and priesthood which will lead us up to the reality in the New
Testament where the Eucharist—meaning Thanksgiving—was actually instituted
by Jesus Himself at the Last Supper. Now let us dive deep into the infinite
treasures, the infinite ocean of God present in His living and penetrating Word,
which we call the Bible.

1. Genesis 3

In this chapter we encounter Adam and Eve, our first parents, who were
commanded not to eat from the tree of the forbidden fruit. They disobeyed by
eating this fruit, first Eve, and then Adam. This we call Original Sin. Death
entered the world through the sin of disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit.

2. John 6:The Bread of Life Discourse

Death came from eating and disobedience. To the contrary, eternal life will come
about by eating and obedience. The eating this time must be from the fruit of the
tree of Calvary, which is the Body and Blood of Jesus. The Son of God Himself
asserted: “I am the Bread of life; whoever eats my Body and drinks my Blood will have
eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day.”In a clear and unequivocal fashion
Jesus states that our salvation, our eternal life. depends upon eating Himself.

3. Genesis 14:18–20 / Hebrews 4:14–15

This mysterious figure of the past symbolizes Jesus the High Priest. Without the
person of the priest, the Eucharist or Bread of Life cannot become a reality. The
priesthood is essential for the whole reality of the Mass, Consecration, Eucharist,
and Holy Communion.

4. Exodus 6: Manna in the Desert

The Israelites were famished by the long journey through the desert. God,
through the instrumentality and leadership of Moses, rained down bread from
heaven called manna—meaning What is this?

Without eating, we are all destined to die on a human and natural plan. Likewise,
if we do not nourish our souls with the Bread of Life we are destined to die and
perish for all eternity. The Manna in the desert is a symbol or type of the Holy
Eucharist.

Actually, Jesus in the Bread of Life discourse, makes reference to Moses and the
manna in the desert: “Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they
died.  But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not
die.” (Jn 6:49-50)

5. Exodus 14: Crossing the Red Sea

The clear symbolism in this passage is that the Jews passed from slavery to
freedom, led by Moses their leader. They were freed from the oppression and
slavery of the Egyptians. Their passage was through the Red Sea.
In a parallel sense, sin is slavery in our lives. By shedding His red blood on the
cross on Calvary that Good Friday, Jesus attained for us the true freedom of the
sons and daughters of God. By receiving His Body and Blood, we are
strengthened, purified, and made strong so as to cross from this life to eternal life
in heaven.

6. Kings 19: Elijah the Priest

Fleeing for his life from the wicked Queen Jezebel and King Ahab, after one day’s
journey, Elijah collapsed in a state of profound desolation. This was translated
into falling into a deep slumber. God sent an angel to Elijah to awaken the man of
God. The angel presented bread for Elijah to eat, once and then a second time.
After eating from the bread, Elijah walked forty days and forty nights from the
strength that came from the bread.

This bread communicated to Elijah a super energy to help him walk all the way
to the holy mountain where he encountered God in the gentle breeze. Our
journey towards the eternal mountain that we call Heaven is a long, perilous,
tiring, and dangerous one. We need energy and strength to persevere on the
journey. That all-powerful energy comes from Jesus, who is truly the Bread of
Life and nourishment for the journey to our heavenly homeland.

7. Psalm 23: The Good Shepherd

Possibly to the surprise of many, there are indeed symbolic Eucharistic overtones
definitely present in this Psalm. Yes! In what way? “You anoint my head with oil…
my cup overflows… I believe I will dwell in the House of the Lord for years without end.”

These three separate phrases certainly have Eucharistic overtones and represent
symbols or types. Anointing refers to the priesthood necessary to celebrate Mass;
the cup refers to the Blood of Christ; House of the Lord refers to heaven—
meaning, that if we nourish ourselves on the Bread of Life and the Cup of
Salvation we will arrive at our eternal and permanent home: Heaven

Now we will move from the Old Testament to the New Testament and delve into
the many inspiring sources that we are all called to read and meditate upon so
that we will grow in our faith, love, and devotion for Jesus who is truly present in
the Bread of Life.

8. Back to John 6
Once again we return to the all-important chapter of John 6. This long chapter
offers three essential themes for our meditation:

 1) Jesus multiplies the loaves. Here Jesus works a natural miracle for the
multitude and for us, so as to dispose and prepare our minds, hearts, and
souls for the miracle of the Eucharist.

 2) Jesus walks on water. If we truly believe in the Lord, we can carry out
miracles. “Lord, I believe, but strengthen my faith.”  (Mk 9:24)

 3) Finally, close to 2/3 of Chapter 6 of Saint John is the Bread of Life

Discourse. This magnificent preaching of Jesus teaches without stammer or
stutter, with the greatest clarity, that if we want to live forever we must
nourish ourselves on the Bread of Life. Of course, this refers to the
Eucharist and Holy Communion!

9. Matthew 26: The Institution of the Eucharist   

In the context of the Last Supper, Jesus celebrates the First Mass  on that Holy
Thursday night. In the same context Jesus institutes and ordains the first priests;
these are the Apostles. In awe and thanksgiving let us lift our hearts in praise to
the Lord for this most sublime gift.

Let us beg for greater faith and love for the Eucharist, as well as implore the Lord
for good and Holy priests.

10. Revelations 3: Jesus Stands and Knocks

This short but challenging passage presents Jesus as a pilgrim-traveler knocking

at the door. The owner can either choose to leave the door shut and ignore the
traveler’s knock or he can open the door to the weary traveler and invite him to
supper.

The Eucharistic Lord is knocking at the door of your heart now. What will be
your response?

11. I Corinthians 11: Eucharistic Abuse

This passage in the Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians explodes!

Unfortunately, in this early Christian community there were members who were
abusing the Eucharist. The more affluent were eating and drinking, even getting
drunk, and neglecting the poor. Then after this scandal, they would be eating the
Body and drinking the Blood of the Lord, and Saint Paul says to their own
condemnation.

This Biblical passage gives us the foundation for the importance of receiving the
Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Jesus, in the state of grace. Otherwise, we could
be eating and drinking, not for our salvation, but for our own condemnation!

12. Luke 24: The Road to Emmaus

A beautiful and heart-warming Easter passage, in a nutshell this passage offers us

a summary of Holy Mass in miniature. Two disciples, walking away from
Jerusalem after Christ’s crucifixion and death, were in the depths of desolation,
until a stranger joined them. That “stranger” was the risen Jesus, unrecognized
by them. The trek on the way to their little cottage, talking with Jesus and
listening to Him, is the Liturgy of the Word. The Breaking of the Bread in the
little cottage in Emmaus is the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

One key interpretation: when we live and walk without Jesus, we live and walk
in utter darkness, desolation, and sadness. However, once Jesus, the Son of God
and the Light of the World, breaks through the clouds and shines on our path, the
clouds of sadness dissipate and we experience an over-flowing and abundant joy!
“Were not our hearts burning within us as he talked with us on the road and explained
the word of God to us?”

13. The Our Father   

In the Lord’s Prayer, which we commonly call The Our Father,  there are seven
petitions. One of these refers to the Eucharist and Holy Communion. “Give us this
day our daily bread…” One way in which this can be interpreted is the challenge,
inasmuch as it is possible according to our daily obligations, to attend Mass and
to receive Holy Communion even on a daily basis.

In other words, this daily bread could be interpreted as daily Mass and daily Holy
Communion. Those who have formed the habit of daily Mass and daily Holy
Communion find that they cannot live without this nourishment. Try it out: daily
Mass and daily Holy Communion!

14. Luke 1:36: Receiving Jesus as Mary

When Our Lady gave her consent to God through the Archangel Gabriel with the
words of her Fiat/Yes: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me
according to your word”,  then, “The word became flesh and dwelt among us.” ( Jn 1:14)

Pope Saint John Paul II makes a parallel between Mary’s YES to God and our
AMEN when we receive Jesus in Holy Communion. In this sense, Mary’s YES
resulted in receiving Jesus into her heart, mind, body, and soul; so also our
AMEN when we receive Jesus in Mass results in Jesus entering into the very
center of our being. For that reason, it is important to beg Mary for the grace to
receive Jesus with faith, devotion, and love in Holy Communion.

15. Luke 1: The Magnificat

We conclude on a Marian note taken from the great Marian lover, Saint Louis de
Montfort, who gave us True Devotion to Mary.  Related to the Mass, Holy
Communion, and the Eucharist, Saint Louis says that one of the best ways that
we can render a proper thanksgiving to Jesus after receiving Him in Holy
Communion is by praying the Mary’s  Magnificat. “My soul proclaims the greatness
of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…”

Through the intercession of the most pure and Immaculate Heart of Mary may all
of you grow in your faith, belief, devotion, and love for Jesus in frequent Masses
and Holy Communions. Indeed, Jesus is the Bread of Life, and whoever eats His
Body and drinks His Blood will have eternal life in joy, peace, and happiness
forever in Heaven.

“O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every
moment thine!”

image:  Sidney de Almeida / Shutterstock.com