Revelation 7:11-12
And all the angels stood round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen."
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us, "The Greek words eucharistein and eulogein recall the Jewish blessings that proclaim — especially during a meal — God's works of creation, redemption, and sanctification." Eucharist means thanksgiving. It is the essential act, not only of creatures to their Maker, but of the Son to the Father. It was God the Son, not a mere creature, Who offered the Father "thanks" as He celebrated the Last Supper. It was a total thanks: a thanks from the core of His being, for His entire being is thanks to the Father. When we enter into the mystery of Holy Communion we are taken up by Him and made part of His choir of thanks to the Father. We are also made part of His offering to the Father: He gives thanks for us and he makes us enter into the mystery of His Passion and Resurrection. And this leads us to heaven where the entire heavenly host shall spend eternity in thanks. Today, practice for heaven: give thanks with Christ in the Eucharist.
