supper time
"Matthew got up and followed Him. Now it happened that, while Jesus was at table in Matthew's home, many tax collectors and those known as sinners came to join Jesus and His disciples at dinner." —Matthew 9:9-10
After Matthew decided to leave his job and follow Jesus, he had Jesus over for supper (Mt 9:9-10). We too need to have supper with Jesus after our conversion. In fact, we need to have supper with Jesus frequently, even daily. At this supper, Jesus will work miracles. He will change bread and wine into His body and blood. This makes it possible for us to receive into our bodies the body and blood of Jesus. In this way, we have an unimaginable intimacy and communion with the Lord. We are in Him and He in us (Jn 6:56).
This communion with the Lord becomes the source, center, and goal of our lives. When Jesus returns at the end of the world, He will have supper with those in communion with Him (see Lk 12:37) and take them to His everlasting wedding banquet in heaven. "Happy are they who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb" (Rv 19:9).
Right now, Jesus is talking to you as He talked to Matthew. Jesus says: "Here I stand, knocking at the door. If anyone hears Me calling and opens the door, I will enter his house and have supper with him, and he with Me" (Rv 3:20). Open the door; give your life totally to Jesus; have supper with Jesus; be in daily, intimate Communion with God.
Prayer: Father, may everyone reading One Bread, One Body want to be a daily communicant.
Promise: "Live a life worthy of the calling you have received, with perfect humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another lovingly." —Eph 4:1-2
Praise: St. Matthew personally experienced Jesus' saving love, and dedicated his life to calling sinners into the kingdom of God.
Reference: (Pray about ordering our Simple Reading Guide to Matthew and Mark. Celebrate the feast of St. Matthew by reading his entire gospel.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert J. Buschmiller, February 17, 1998
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 25, 1998