Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood: Why We Need the Eucharist

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending the ordination of three new deacons for our local church, and part of the privilege was watching these three young men promise celibacy and obedience to the bishop, effectively giving their lives away. Jesus says, "He who saves his life will lose it. But he who loses his life for my sake, finds it." How can any of us, regardless of what vocation we're called to, make a complete gift of our life to God? I would say that it is by receiving the gift that Jesus makes of his life that we are able to make our own lives a gift. This is precisely what the Eucharist and Holy Mass are: The gift of self that the Divine Bridegroom makes to the Church. Receiving Christ's self-gift, we can have grace to do the same.