“What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the child of your serving-maid. You have loosed my bonds. I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the Lord.” Psalm 116:12-17
How can I offer my thanks and praise to God? By calling on the Name of the Lord as I ‘lift the cup of salvation.’ I sit this morning reading these words and see the Eucharist before me. “Eucharistia” – Greek for thanksgiving.
The greatest gift of God’s love and even His thanksgiving is His Son in the Eucharist. The Father sacrifices everything that Jesus may come to us in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. In entirety. Yes, behind the veil of bread and wine but nothing less than all He is.
We are so unworthy to be in the same place as Jesus, let alone to walk down that aisle toward Him. So, as we approach the altar to receive Jesus, always keep in mind your consecration through our mother, Mary, to His Sacred Heart. The Blessed Mother will take the impure offering of our heart and present us to her Son. We approach as humbly as our mother in her example. Pure humility.
Finally, standing before the priest as the Lord is lifted before us, see the truth and unequivocally declare, “that really IS You, my Lord and God.”
Receive the Lord being filled with a truer spirit of praise and thanksgiving. Thanksgiving that though a sinner, God loves you so much. Jesus loves you enough to die for you and to come into your sinful body to change your soul forever.
Reflect today on the last time you received the Eucharist. How did you approach the Lord? We’re you excited and reverent? Think about the next time you see Him. Come before the Eucharistic Lord with humility and love. Live forever in Him, with Him, because of Him.