THEN NOW THE LAST SUPPER, THEN AND ALSO NOW S

omething amazing takes place during the consecration of the Eucharist, and I’m not talking about transubstantiation. It’s a little like time travel, and most people are completely unaware of it. When the priest says the words of Jesus at the Last Supper, he does not simply recall a past event. At that moment, the church is transported into timeless eternity.

“The Eucharist is the memorial of Christ’s Passover, the making present and the sacramental offering of his unique sacrifice ... In all the Eucharistic Prayers we find after the words of institution a prayer called the anamnesis or memorial.” (CCC 1362)

To understand this incredible mystery, you need to understand the concept of “memorial.” In the liturgical celebrations of ancient Israel, recalling past events was more than simply remembering. For instance, the story of God rescuing the captive Israelites from Egyptian slavery is told during every Passover. The belief was that those events become present in a certain sense, and something of that saving action is applied again to the people participating in the ceremony like they were actually there.

This is what happens at Mass. The Eucharistic Prayer is a memorial of Christ’s Passover at the Last Supper. However, the catechism beautifully expounds that, “In the New Testament, the memorial takes on new meaning.” (CCC 1364) Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the recollection becomes a reality. You see, the cross is not just a past event, done once and then gone. It’s an eternal event, a still point in time. In the New Testament memorial, time collapses, and the eternal sacrifice of Christ on the cross is made present here and now. It’s like a window through time, allowing us to partake in the eternal offering. So now, that saving grace isn’t sort of applied to us like we were there, it really is applied to us because we are there.

This encounter with God’s eternal time transcends human limitations. We enter the divine realm, where the past, present and future merge. As the priest, acting in persona Christi, utters the words of consecration, Christ himself speaks and acts. Do not take the Eucharist lightly. Approach the altar with reverence, awe and an open heart. As you receive the Body and Blood of Christ, remember that this is not an empty ritual but a profound encounter with our Savior that spans the ages.

The next time you’re at Mass, don’t zone out during the Eucharistic Prayers. Remember: this is the Last Supper then ... but also now. The Last Supper is not confined to the past; it transcends time and space, becoming a living reality in our lives. It is the eternal sacrifice of Christ, a profound encounter with Jesus within God’s eternal time. In that sacred moment, time stands still and heaven touches earth. We are granted a glimpse of the divine, a taste of the eternal. I pray this truth ignites a fire within you, deepening your faith and inspiring you to share the profound beauty of the Eucharist with others.