Food gathers
With His rising to new life, Jesus makes perfect the universality of His Gospel. He does not only pass beyond doors and walls: his words are now meant for all. The disciples will later be tasked by the Risen Lord to “go into the whole world.” Our first reading (Acts 8:1-8) attests to how Philip – in the power of the Lord Jesus’ Resurrection – went to Samaria and proclaimed with good results the Lordship of Jesus. In contrast, Saul – who was the apostle Paul then in his old life in Judaism – felt that God’s benevolence was only meant for Jews. He therefore was going to house to house, dragging Christians whom he thought were corrupting the old tradition of Moses.
In the Eucharist of our time, Jesus rejects no one. He makes himself available for all, for all times. It reminds us what Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you…” (Mt 11:28). Our participation in the Eucharist of the Risen Jesus should then open us to follow the example of Jesus. Food unites; food gathers people to a celebration. The Eucharistic Jesus then gathers us in communion – with God, and with each other. The Bread of Life that is Jesus should empower us to gather, to celebrate amidst our differences.
