Posted by The WORD in other words (2009) by Fr. Jake Ferrer, SVD – Japan
Friday 3rd Week of Easter
St. John’s discourse on the “bread of life,” the Eucharist, reminds me of an experience working in my first mission assignment in a parish in Akita, Japan. Weekday masses were usually held in the convents of the religious sisters, who administered academic institutions, such as junior colleges, high schools, and kindergartens, as well as a hospital and an orphanage.
In one of these convents where I used to celebrate Mass, an elderly high school teacher regularly attended Mass and received Holy Communion before going for work. Heavy snows in winter did not prevent him from walking two kilometers from where he lived until he could no longer walk due to an advanced stage of cancer.
Upon his request, his family asked me to administer the sacraments of reconciliation and the anointing of the sick, as well as to bring him Holy Communion. Just before I left his room in the hospital, he whispered something that I could not forget. In an audible voice, “Father,” he said, “will you please bring me Holy Communion for ten days?”
I did not know why he said that so I kept pondering his words in my heart. But every time he received Holy Communion, and in spite of the excruciating pain that came along with an imminent death, his face would lighten up the room with a deep sense of inner peace and joy. And on the tenth day at around 7:30AM, at the same time and place where he has been receiving Holy Communion for the last nine consecutive days, he surrendered his spirit in eternal communion with the eternal Bread of Life.
Jesus promised His people “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (Jn 6: 53). Commenting on this passage, my biblical exegesis professor in the seminary expressed his deep belief that “The Holy Eucharist is the best guarantee for our eternal life and, thus, of our final resurrection from death.”
As we celebrate several important feasts and events in the liturgical calendar, the feast of St. Joseph, the Worker, we remember in a special way all our overseas and home-based workers. In their busy lifestyles and schedules, may they always be nourished and sustained by hope and faith, and find meaning in their work and mission in and through the Holy Eucharist.
In this month of May, the month of Mama Mary. May we entrust ourselves to our Blessed Mother’s maternal care and protection “now and at the hour of our death,” and may her love always draw us closer to the Heart of her beloved Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.
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