Luke 22:19
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."
The Eucharist is a memorial. The Church has always taught this for the very simple reason that Jesus taught it. But that does not mean the Eucharist is only a memorial. Indeed, the word to describe the sort of memorial it is is "anamnesis." It doesn't speak merely of remembering something long ago as we might remember a fond Saturday afternoon in our childhood. Rather, it means a "making present." It is the difference between remembering our childhood and remembering where we are right now. Precisely because the Eucharist is truly the Body and Blood of Christ and not a mere symbol, we remember who Jesus is, what He has done and, most importantly, what He is doing right now in making Himself present in our midst. Today thank God for the Real Presence of Jesus in His Church right now, when we need Him most.
