They recognised him as he broke the bread

What is more meaningful than sharing one’s own meal, that which gives you life and energy with others?

Three young men, Carlo Calleja from Stella Maris Parish, Sliema, Christopher Ellul from Christ the King Parish, Paola and Mark J. Zammit from The Annunciation Parish, Tarxien were given the ministry by the Church to do just that.

But it is no simple meal that they now have the responsibility to share with others. It is the Paschal meal, the bread and wine which now become the Body and Blood of Jesus who shared his very life on the cross.

This step, which marks the last step before eventually being ordained deacons, also puts emphasis on having the Seminarians reflect more on the Eucharist. The words that the Archbishop pronounces as the seminarians kneel before him are very revealing: “Take this vessel with bread for the celebration of the eucharist. Make your life worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and of his Church.”

The gospel passage which these three seminarians have chosen to be read during the mass recounts the story of the disciples on their way to Emmaus. The disciples only recognised Jesus when he broke the bread, when they realised how he had shed his life for us, giving us the Eucharist. Likewise, we can only recognise Jesus when we share what we have, our whole being, with others, and when we participate in the Eucharistic banquet at Mass.

May we never cease seeing the link between our sharing the Eucharist and our sharing of our life with others that Christ may always be in our midst.

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