your last communion
"He dipped the morsel, then took it and gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot." —John 13:26
At Saturday's Easter Vigil and in the next two months, many people, especially children, will be celebrating their "First Communions." This will be the first time they receive the body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus. These first Communions will be among the greatest events in their lives.
But what about your last Communion? Will it rightly be called "Viaticum," meaning "on the way with Jesus" to heaven? Or will it be like the Last Supper when Jesus gave "the bit of food" to Judas (Jn 13:26)? "Immediately after, Satan entered his heart" (Jn 13:27). Will your last Communion be months or years before your death, or moments before your death and entry into heaven? Is Communion "kid's stuff" for you, or the center and heartbeat of your daily life?
In two days, we will celebrate throughout the world Holy Thursday, the day of the first Communion of all time. Make a new first Communion on Holy Thursday — the first time you've ever loved the Lord so much. If you continue and grow in the first love (see Rv 2:4) of this new first Communion, your last Communion will be a Holy Communion of love leading to heaven.
Prayer: Father, may my Communions this Holy Week be more holy and continue to become holier.
Promise: "Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, yet my reward is with the Lord, my recompense is with my God." —Is 49:4
Praise: John has received and been in communion with Jesus each day for forty-three years.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, August 1, 1996
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 6, 1996