“Many people nowadays say, ‘I wish I could see his shape, his appearance, his clothes, his sandals.’ Only look! You see him! You touch him! You eat him!” — St. John Chrysostom
After his death and resurrection, Jesus appears to seven disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. “When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread” (Jn 21:9). St. Thomas Aquinas says that the charcoal fire represents the burning love of Christ. The cooking fish represents Christ in his passion, suffering for us. The bread symbolizes Christ’s teaching, which sustains us. Jesus then invites the disciples to bring over the fish they have caught. They offer themselves (symbolized by the fish) to be cooked in the fire of charity, to be conformed to Christ in his sufferings.
LET US PRAY
Lord Jesus, you came to the disciples after your resurrection to strengthen their faith. I believe that you are truly present before me today in the Eucharist. Like the disciples, I offer you my life, that I might be transformed by charity. Amen.
PRAYER TO THE EUCHARIST
O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion, grant us, we pray, so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption. Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
-Collect for the Feast of Corpus Christi, composed by St. Thomas Aquinas