Drafting part 1 ideas (supporting)

II. Seed: Eucharist

Eucharist comes from the Greek word “Eukaristos” which means thanksgiving. It is literally means thanks
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of one who has received “goodly gifts” and who, consequently, is “thankful”. The celebration of the
Eucharist is a thanksgiving to God who redeemed us through Christ and continues to love the
humankind. It is a gathering of the faithful which aims to worship and express their gratitude to God. It
is their time to listen to the Word of God that gives them strength and inspires the people to follow
Jesus. It is in the Holy Communion where they share and receive the body of Christ. It is the time where
we communicate to God.

The Holy Eucharist is one of the sacraments that complete Christian initiation. Those who have been
raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by
confirmation participate with whole community in the Lord’s own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist. 2
In this sacrament, the bread and wine signifies the body and blood of Christ. Jesus says “Do this in
memory of me” (Luke 22: 19). It means that in the Eucharistic celebration, we keep in mind the paschal
mystery of Jesus who sacrificed to save us from our sin. Through this sacrament, sins are forgiven and
we are reconciled to God.

Statement of the problem:

The Eucharist is one of the sacraments of initiation in which we receive the body and blood of
Christ.  It is the source and the summit of the ecclesial life. In CFC 1702, “Eucharist is called the
"sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity and a paschal banquet. It also called last
supper, breaking of the bread, holy mass, sacred meal or thanksgiving. Eucharist as communion
means that all who ate the one blessed, broken Bread that is Christ, were drawn into
communion with Him and with one another, to form one single body with Him. When we
receive the Eucharist, we commune with Jesus and build a closer relationship to Him. When we
accept Him, He became our spiritual Bread of life who gives us physical strength nourishes our
soul and purifies our heart.” 3We also experience communion in the family through having
closer relationship, participating in family affairs, promoting harmony and sharing their
blessings to one another. The Eucharist is important to strengthen one’s relationship to one
another. If we make the Eucharist the center of each Christian family, it might build unity and
strength within the family, church and community.

Today, some of the families as communities are breaking apart. There is a weakening of family
ties. Some of the factors that diminishes the family ties are misunderstanding, self-centered,

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CFC, & The holy Eucharist, Catechism for the catholic church, 1322
2

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envious, neglect or lack of love and unable to receive and ask for forgiveness. “Therefore the
absence of parents may destroy the solidarity and unity in the family.” Today’s situation is really
a great challenge for every Filipino Family to look at their spiritual life, the life that should be
nourished and nurtured in the Eucharist. Therefore, the Eucharist as communion

can be one of the sources to deepen and strengthen the family relationships. It is a life that is centered
to Christ. There is a need to be more aware on how the Eucharist may deepen and strengthen the family
life.  Knowing that it is the source and summit of Christian life, we are called to have a deep
understanding on how Eucharist as communion can be a help for us. Being commune with Jesus is also
being commune with others. This can be done by eating together, providing the needs of others and
doing an act of charity. By doing those activities, it can strengthen family’s relationship.

Lastly, this paper will seek to answer the most relevant understanding of the Eucharist as communion in
every Filipino family:  How can understanding the Eucharist as communion contributes to deepening/
strengthening family life?

Objective Significance
“The Eucharist as communion is an important source of strength for the community to live out our
communion of love with each other.” In this paper, we want to show the many ways by which the
Eucharist as communion builds love, (peace) unity of the community. The communion within the
Community of my area helps each (person) member to grow in unity, charity and commitment to
service.

Subjective Significance
Therefore, the families in the Parish of St. Francis Xavier will help them to understand the Eucharist as
communion as a way of responding to their needs, physical, psychological, social and moral aspect. It
must be recognized by Catholic families as a source of charity, and the basis of the communion and
mission of family life. Hence, it will help motivate them to practice the real communion with their family
members as being commune with Jesus Christ.

Eucharist as Communion

The Eucharist has many aspects like sacrifice-sacrament or sacramental presence. This article is
focused on one aspect of Eucharist which is the communion. “Eucharist as communion unites us more
closely with Jesus Himself, and unites us also with all of our brothers and sisters in Christ.” 4 It signifies
our unity in faith and union with one another in the community of faith. When we receive the Eucharist,
we build a closer relationship to Jesus. When we accept Him, He becomes our spiritual Bread of life who
gives us strength, nourishes our soul and purifies our heart.

Another name used by the Eucharist is the sacred meal. The “sacred meal “that Jesus brought out during
His public ministry is continued in the celebration of the mass today. The meal experience by Jesus

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Ronald Lawler ,OFM, The Catholic Catechism, , 1985
brought salvation to those who opened their hearts to him in loving communion. “Jesus used the natural
elements of a meal which are (1) coming together, (2) conversing and (3) sharing food and drink
together. This brings salvation and the loving presence among us.” 5 In this meal, we receive the joy
where God gives us blessings, mercy, forgiveness our sins and love that the Holy Spirit brings to us.

According Fr. Harlon, “the Eucharist brings us graces” 6. Our souls become more united to Jesus
and it transforms the person towards good. Another significance of communion is to remove the
personal guilt and venial sins.7 It also challenges the person to be united to others and charity to others.

5
Ibid.,1748.