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Week 1

Table Manners

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.

1 Corinthians 11:27–29

The Eucharist is central to our lives as Catholics. It is not simply a representation of the Last Supper; it is, as Pope Francis has said, the Last Supper itself. When we attend Mass, we literally experience the Passion and redeeming death of the Lord.¹ As Jesus himself said, the Eucharist is “true food” and “true drink” (Jn 6:55). We have been given a great gift in the Eucharist. It satisfies our deepest desire for peace, feeds our most profound hunger for purpose, and stirs us to great joy.

Do we understand what we receive in Communion, Sunday after Sunday? Do we recognize the Body and the Blood of the Lord as we receive the Eucharist? Do we come with clean hearts and open hands, ready to participate fully in the Sacrifice of the Mass and to be sent out into the world to spread the Good News of Jesus by our words and deeds? Or do we come with broken spirits, hardened hearts, and closed minds, unable to set aside our selfishness and take on the task of spreading the gospel? As Catholic men, we must be willing to give ourselves over to our Savior, allowing him to lead us to the table of his Body and Blood with resolve and understanding.

In our call to follow Christ, to take up our crosses and walk the walk of self-surrender, we must become like Christ. That means we are to be broken bread and poured out wine for the world. The Eucharist gives us the strength to be men after God’s own heart, to sacrifice ourselves in the service of the gospel for our families, our Church, and our world. The beauty, power, and presence of the Eucharist are absolutely foundational to our lives and actions as Catholic men. In fact, all of our actions should flow from our encounter with the Eucharistic Lord.

How do we allow the Eucharist to transform our every action? The sixth chapter of the ospel of John has the answers. This week we will focus on five key points from this important gospel:

1. The Eucharist gives life.

Jesus says that he is the true bread that comes down from heaven to give life to the world (cf. Jn 6:32–35). His sacrificial death on the cross provides our salvation, and we relive that saving act every time we receive the Body and Blood of the Lord.

2. The Eucharist is about abundance.

The Bread of Life Discourse in John 6 takes place after Jesus feeds the 5,000. The people wanted the miracle of the loaves to continue. Jesus offered them a much greater abundance — he promised eternal life in him.

3. The Eucharist is about satisfaction.

Those who partake of the Body and Blood of Christ will never hunger or thirst again (cf. Jn 6:35, 58). Even more importantly, in the Eucharist we know that Christ has made complete satisfaction for our sins. There is no further need for sacrifices because the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ on the cross is complete satisfaction for humanity’s sins, and we are allowed to partake in that sacrifice whenever we receive the Eucharist.

4. The Eucharist is about making an eternal decision.

We are asked to give our “Amen!” when we receive the Eucharist. Part of this assent is accepting Christ’s offer of salvation through his death on the cross. We can say yes to his call, or we can murmur in disbelief like those who rejected the truth of the Eucharist as a “hard” saying.

5. The Eucharist is about love.

Jesus knew that many would reject him because of the Eucharist, but still he offered his love to the world. Like Peter, each of us can return that love by acknowledging that only Jesus has the words of everlasting life and by giving our lives fully to him.

This Week’s Call to Action

As Catholic men, we must stand firm in our faith in the Eucharist so that we can bring the presence of Christ to a hurting world. Past, present, and future come together in every celebration of the Mass, as the priest speaks the words of Consecration over the bread and wine. This is a moment so profound that our only response should be one of thanksgiving and awe. The bread of the earth and the fruit of the vine become the very Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ!

This means that the way in which we partake of the Eucharist is very important. We cannot become witnesses to the world if we sin against the Body and Blood of the Lord through hearts hardened by selfishness and sin. As we receive, so we are sent out into the world, to be broken bread and poured out wine for all those who hunger and thirst for Jesus.

This week consider how you will live out this incredible truth. Allow Christ to transform all of your actions through the power of the Eucharist, so that you can be a true servant of the kingdom. As you interact with others, particularly other men, find ways to share the life, abundance, satisfaction, commitment, and love of the Eucharist in all you say and do. Speak truth into other men’s lives. Give generously of your time and talent to meet their needs. Commit to praying for and supporting these men throughout this study and beyond. Share with them the sacrificial and life-changing love of Jesus Christ.

Sunday

This week we will meditate on the power of the Eucharist. We will consider the reality of the Body and Blood of the Lord as expressed in the Gospels. We will ponder the abundant and satisfying grace that is ours through this Sacrament. We will strive to live in full awareness that each time we receive the Eucharist, we are experiencing the supreme sacrifice Christ made on the cross to take away our sins. Hopefully we will experience the great love Christ pours out for each of us in this Sacrament and look for practical ways to share that love with others.

As you join with your brothers and sisters at Mass this Sunday, be mindful of the words of Jesus from John 6. Meditate on the rejection he faced as he spoke about people eating his Body and drinking his Blood. Listen to the words of Peter, as he tells the Lord that there is no other to whom we can turn, for Jesus alone has the words of eternal life. Consider how Jesus left us this great sign as the center of our worship. The Eucharist truly takes us to the moment when heaven and earth were reconciled in the greatest act of love: Christ’s saving death on the cross.

Pray a prayer of thanksgiving to Christ. If you are able to meet with other men this week, share your reflections and any insights that may have come to you during Mass.

Questions for reflection

How can I develop a greater love for the Eucharist?

Do I approach Communion in a worthy manner, receiving the Body and Blood of the Lord with joy and thanksgiving?

How is Jesus asking me to take him out to the lost and hurting of this world?

Praying with Scripture

“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And likewise the chalice after supper, saying, ‘This chalice which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood’” (Lk 22:19–20).

Monday

The Eucharist Gives Life

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 6:51–54

Jesus came to bring us life — his life. Nothing else can satisfy our hunger for meaning and peace. Nothing else can bring us salvation. The Eucharist is the true bread that came down from heaven, the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Savior. When Jesus left us this sacrament, he left us a share in his very life, for his Body and Blood are real food and drink. When we partake of the Eucharist, we are not simply remembering Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary; we are truly there at the foot of the cross.

This is not merely a symbol or a nice idea, but a deep reality, even though it is so far beyond what our senses can grasp. This living sign has been given to us to strengthen us and draw us into the very act of our salvation. It gives us all the graces we need to live out our salvation in every act of love we share, at every moment of our lives — all for the glory of God.

It should be noted that Christ’s discourse on the Eucharist is the only incident recorded in the Gospels where people turned away from Jesus for doctrinal reasons. They rejected Our Lord’s words because they were too difficult for their hardened hearts to bear. Our call as Catholic men is to accept the powerful truth of the Eucharist and to carry that truth to the world. Humanity is hungering for the life that only Jesus can bring through his death on the cross. We must be willing to share that same life that we have received at Baptism and continue to experience in the Eucharist.

Questions for Reflection

What does it mean to you to be able to receive the Eucharist each Sunday?

How does participating in the Sacrifice of the Mass strengthen you to act in a godly way?

How will you share the life of Christ given to you in the Eucharist with other men this week?

Praying with Scripture

“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst’” (Jn 6:35).

Tuesday

The Eucharist Is About Abundance

Ho, every one who thirsts,

come to the waters;

and he who has no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without price.

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.

Incline your ear, and come to me;

hear, that your soul may live;

and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

my steadfast, merciful love for David.

Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,

a leader and commander for the peoples.

Behold, you shall call nations that you know not,

and nations that knew you not shall run to you,

because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,

for he has glorified you.

Isaiah 55:1–5

Jesus miraculously fed a crowd of 5,000 men, not including women and children. This happened just before his Bread of Life Discourse. He had provided an abundant banquet for those who had spent the day listening to his teachings. They came hungering for something to fill the longing in their hearts and the emptiness in their lives. Jesus could not send them away without satisfying their needs.

His actions prefigured the Sacrifice of the Mass. He gathered the people, called them to a time of worship, preached the Word, proclaimed the Good News, and shared a sacred, miraculous meal before sending the people forth in love. What an abundant gift!

The glory of the Eucharist is that it is far more than we could ever have hoped for or imagined. It is the most abundant blessing from God, the sign of his great sacrifice on Calvary, the Supper of the Lamb, who gave his life for the world. It nourishes our weary souls and fills us to overflowing so that we can spill over with love for the world that Christ is calling home to himself. The people came to Jesus seeking perishable food; Jesus offered them abundant, eternal life.

We are called to the fullness of Eucharistic life in all our actions. As we participate in the Eucharist, we are strengthened to offer the same abundant blessing we have received from Christ to all those who are looking for what will satisfy their souls.

Questions for Reflection

Do you recognize the Eucharist as a gift that flows from God’s abundance? If not, what keeps you from seeing it in that way?

What are some other abundant blessings God has given to you?

Who in your life needs the life-giving power of the Eucharist? How can you help bring them to it?

Praying with Scripture

“And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. As it is written, ‘He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever’” (2 Cor 9:8–9).

Wednesday

The Eucharist Is About Satisfaction

Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered up himself. Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever.

Hebrews 7:25–28

Not only is the Eucharist about the abundant love of Jesus Christ; it is also about perfect satisfaction. God in his justice demanded a perfect sacrifice to make up for our sins, and no human being could offer such a sacrifice. Only someone who was divine and human could make the needed reparation for our fallen nature. So God in his mercy sent his Son Jesus, true God and true man, to be our Great High Priest and our perfect sacrifice. Jesus, by living a sinless human life and offering up that life on the cross, satisfied the debt for our sins.

The priests of the Old Testament had to repeat their sacrifices year after year, and these sacrifices did not come close to making satisfaction for sin. Jesus needed to offer up his perfect sacrifice only one time. The Eucharist does not repeat the sacrifice of Christ. Instead, it is the once-for-all sacrifice of Calvary.

Moreover, the Eucharist fully satisfies our deepest hunger. Our separation from God as a result of Adam’s sin leaves us with an emptiness that only Christ can fill. Through his Body and Blood, Jesus provides us with real food and real drink. As we receive the Bread of Life and the Chalice of Eternal Salvation, we know we will never hunger or thirst again. Every longing, every need, and every desire finds its fulfillment in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

Questions for Reflection

Do you recognize that Jesus has made satisfaction, not just for the sins of the world, but for your personal sins as well? How do you thank him for this gift?

Do you participate fully and with gratitude in the Sacrifice of the Mass? If not, what can you do to improve your attention?

How has the Eucharist satisfied some of your deepest longings?

Praying with Scripture

“I will abundantly bless [Zion’s] provisions; / I will satisfy her poor with bread” (Ps 132:15).

Thursday

The Eucharist Is About Making an Eternal Decision

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice, and clinging to him; for that means life to you and length of days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

Deuteronomy 30:19–20

God’s people were preparing to enter the promised land. Moses called each one to make an eternal decision: to choose life or death, heaven or hell, peace and prosperity or division and ruin. To choose life was to choose God and to receive his offer of a future salvation. His challenge to the people is our challenge every Sunday at Mass. The Eucharist is our ultimate life choice. To make such a choice lightly is to profane the Body and Blood of the Lord. Like the Israelites, we can either receive or reject the life that Christ offers us in the Eucharist.

Sadly, many Catholics go through the motions of the Mass, never fully realizing what the Eucharist is. Christians of many denominations talk about “making a decision” for Christ, but Catholics are given that opportunity every time we participate in the Mass. Our “Amen!” when we receive Communion is our “Yes!” to two things: (1) to the reality of Christ’s True Presence in the Eucharist, and (2) to the salvation he won for us in his death on the cross, which is made present again in every Mass.

How we respond to the Eucharist truly matters. Saint Paul even talked about receiving the Eucharist in an unworthy manner: “For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment upon himself” (1 Cor 11:29). Our Catholic Faith is no simple matter. Each Sunday as we participate in the sacrifice of the Mass, we renew our commitment to follow Christ. Like the people in Moses’ day, we are being offered a choice between life and death. Let us choose life and let us live that life to the fullest, by our prayers, our words, our actions, and all that we are!

Questions for reflection

Is there one thing you can do to improve your participation in the Mass? What is that one thing? Can you share it with a brother and ask him to hold you accountable to it?

When you say “Amen!” as you receive Communion, do you really think about what you are saying? Can you truly say that you mean it?

Praying with Scripture

“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why we utter the Amen through him, to the glory of God” (2 Cor 1:20).

Friday

The Eucharist Is About Love

Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

1 John 4:7–9

There are many kinds of love: romantic love, brotherly love, the love of beauty or art, etc. But there is one love that surpasses all others: agape, which is the love that is willing to surrender all things for the good of another.

That is what Jesus did. He gave his life for us to make us worthy to enter the kingdom of Heaven. Jesus knew that many would reject his teaching on the Eucharist, yet he did not hold back on speaking the truth about it. As a result, many of his followers walked away. When Jesus asked his disciples if they wished to leave him also, “Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God’” (Jn 6:68–69).

We can take comfort in these words of Peter. Will we be like Peter and acknowledge that there is no other who can satisfy all our longings? Let us today commit our lives more fully to our Savior and carry out his call to share the gospel with the lost. Let us take in the words from John’s Gospel and marvel at the love that made the Lord of the universe our friend. May we choose this day to love others as Jesus has loved us.

Questions for Reflection

How are you living out Christ’s command to love others as he has loved you?

What one person in your life can you love in a sacrificial way today, following Jesus’ example?

How can you help another man draw near to the One who has the words of eternal life?

Praying with Scripture

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 Jn 3:16).

Saturday

Go Deeper

How has Christ shown me his abundant life and love this week?

Where do I find the most satisfaction in my faith? Why?

Am I committed to loving and receiving Christ in the Eucharist? If not, what holds me back? What will I do to draw closer to him in the Blessed Sacrament?

Have I shown sacrificial love this week? If not, why not? If so, was I as generous as I could be?

Do I show others the reality of the Eucharist in my words and deeds? Do I receive Communion with reverence? Do I let the Blessed Sacrament make a lasting impression on everything I say and do?

1. Pope Francis, Morning Meditation in the Chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, “At Mass without a Watch,” February 10, 2014, https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/cotidie/2014/documents/papa-francesco-cotidie_20140210_mass-without-watch.html.