By Patrick Wemambu
“In the Eucharist, God satisfies our hunger for food and a place of honour in the Holy Mass…You become truly what you eat. Jesus said, ‘unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you.’”
Those were the remarks of Rev. Fr (Dr.) James Urien, Chaplain of St. Paul’s Chaplaincy, Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, Delta State while celebrating Mass in his church recently. Inviting Catholics to Communion, the priest said it was honourable to respect God with our presence and participation in the Holy Mass.
Portraying the Eucharistic banquet as the greatest feast of all which Jesus Christ gave in his remembrance, Fr Urien expatiated; “Jesus is the bread from heaven. The Eucharist is important for our spiritual well-being as food is crucial to our survival. Let us cherish and appreciate the gift of the Holy Eucharist. Jesus said, ‘if you eat of this bread, you will live forever.’”
Admonishing the laity to forsake foolishness and embrace wisdom, the homilist argued that it is one thing to be knowledgeable and another to be wise – just as it is possible to be knowledgeable and be foolish. Life without God, he added, is foolishness.
“The table of wisdom is set before us to embrace truth. To be devoid of wisdom is to be foolish. We are called to live wisely, to nourish our spirits with the Holy Eucharist and to be thankful,” the congregation was told.
Whereas knowledge comes from learning, wisdom comes from living, Fr Urien stressed – even as he contended that knowledge is different from wisdom. Quoting Prov. 9:10, the clergyman insisted that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Parishioners were, therefore, advised to leave behind any form of foolishness and choose the way of understanding.
“The second reading (Ephesians 5:15-20) urges us to be careful how we live, making the most of every opportunity. We should live with critical thoughts and not be like the drunkard or sinners. Experience teaches us that there is more to life than the things we pursue. Wisdom makes us know, love and serve God,” Fr Urien concluded.
