The Messianic banquet
The prophet Isaiah continues to console us and to bring us hope. Our tears will be wiped away and death will be destroyed forever. Yesterday, he reminded us that the Advent season is a time to prepare for the arrival of the reign of the Messiah. Today, he speaks about the heavenly banquet or Messianic banquet, where the christian faithful, in particular the martyrs, go following heaven. This indeed the imagery of the Eucharist which is an anticipation of the new heaven. Jesus gives himself to us at the table of the Eucharist (Holy mountain), which is symbolised by the multiplication of loaves and the fish. The Eucharist is the self-giving of God, who is generous and compassionate. “ I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me for three days, and have nothing to eat.” (Mt 15: 32) In the Eucharist, we celebrate the Victory of God for nations through Christ, who had conquered sin and death. In the Eucharist, Christ feeds us; he heals us from all our iniquities. Christ in the Eucharist shares his very life with us, changes and transforms us. He gives us hope to celebrate the eternal banquet in heaven with his Father. Every Eucharist is a manifestation of God’s love for us!
May every eucharist celebrated today bring you healing body, mind and spirit. Through them, may every tear be wiped away from your eyes!
Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO sac