The Eucharistic Gate
“Disputation of the Holy Sacrament” by Raphael, 1509-1510
The Eucharist is my portal to heaven. It is small—yes. Even simple. For I, too, must become small and simple to pass through the Kingdom's narrow gate. I must continue to be refined, separated from my mess of ego, my rubbled, worldly attachments, all things which jeopardize my fit. This is why I run to Jesus, Himself, who is always waiting for me in the Eucharist.
The small, consecrated Host is the ancient, forgotten door to heaven. Here is Jesus—fully exposed and yet fully hidden—who wishes to draw near to me, to lead me from this earth to heaven. Before His death, Jesus commanded all of His precious children to remember Him by receiving the Eucharist. He promised them eternal life for it. And so I do partake in this sacred union and reunion.
In trust, I plunge my entire soul through the thin, white screen of the Host—that as I receive Him, He might also receive me. Though I be properly disposed, I worry about my fit. But I need not. He makes me worthy of this sacramental embrace, this preview of heaven. As His hands reach out for me—to pull me through into His arms—the nails of my sin fly back into the holes of His hands to dissolve, useless.
In this perfect, hidden circle of Eucharistic communion we meet, briefly. He invites me to relish this momentary union—to join my heart and will to His, yet again. I practice this, again and again through Holy Communion, because I must. For I am still so quickly distracted, re-entagled in world and self.
If I am changing, it is because of the Eucharist. For through this thin, round filter of Love, Jesus strains off more of me so I may fit into heaven—that is, one day remain forever within His heart. For the Eucharist is a tunnel between heaven and earth, the most direct route between His heart and mine. Each Host burrows me closer to Him, that I might be eternally contained in His Love.
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Matthew 26:26-29
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins."
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you;
for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
John 6:5o-57
This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you;
he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me.
