by Return to Me: Lenten Reflections by Holy Cross 2019
In today’s Gospel, Jesus breaks bread with the disciples at the Last Supper. This shared meal is recreated in the amazing process of the transubstantiation revealed at Mass each week through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. As a parent, I continue to be humbled and awed by the depth of God’s sacrifice. Today’s Gospel also recalls the importance that food, and more specifically sharing meals with others, plays in cultures throughout the world. The generosity of inviting others to gather and sharing your food with them, on a continuum from simple to extravagant, represents the best of what we have to offer others. In a divisive world often focused on polarities, food serves as a common denominator that reflects the authenticity, nuance, fluidity, and beauty of our diversity. Food literally feeds our bodies, while the sharing of meals with others nourishes the soul through its opportunities for connection and understanding. As we prepare our hearts for Easter, may we each be inspired to celebrate by breaking bread in communion with others.