Eating and Drinking the Life of Jesus

“Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? “Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Mt. 7:9-12)

We have seen today that Fathers are to feed and nourish their children in the culture and instructions of Jesus. What is the culture and teaching of Jesus? We see in the gospels a lifestyle of eating and drinking with sinners, healing the sick, and teaching the masses. And all of these good gifts were given by the Father to a nation that would eventually put his own son to death. We are called to this table, but this table also promises to nourish us with this life of Jesus. And the life of Jesus is one of selfless gift giving. We began our study on Royalty in the Family with the duty of gift giving. But sinful hearts want to see the justice now; what if I confess my sins and he/she doesn’t care? What if I start respecting my dad, and he just keeps acting like a jerk? What if I start really loving and cherishing my wife and she keeps running her mouth? What if I start feeding my children the gospel in love but they continue to spit it out in my face? You mean: what if the Father sent his Son for the salvation of the world and then got rejected and killed? Well, beloved Congregation of the Lord Jesus, that’s exactly what happened. But the resurrection of Jesus was his vindication, and it is our vindication as well. This means that you are called to give these good gifts of love and respect and obedience even to death. Even to death. Even if no one ever knows, even if you go to the grave scorned and hated by the whole world. This is the life of Jesus you are eating and drinking. Do you have the courage for this kind of life? Do you have the guts? Are you man or woman enough for this? God thinks so because He is at work in you by His Spirit perfecting all that you are. Do not shrink back. Come: you are the Kings and Queens of a royal people: you are the princes and princesses of nobility. Come and eat and drink with thanksgiving. And look around at one another as you do so; we are feasting on the life of God, the Eucharistic, thanksgiving life of God.