As a Christian, Holy Week and the Easter season plunge me into the midst of the Paschal Mystery: the fact of Jesus’ passion, death, resurrection and sending of the Holy Spirit. We follow Jesus on Holy Thursday at the Last Supper as He shares in table fellowship with His disciples, calling them friends, and giving to them and to all who believe His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. He says, “This is my body which is given for you all,” and “This is my blood of the new covenant which will be poured out for you all. Do this in remembrance of me.” Ever since, when we share in the Eucharist, we share in communion with Christ and with one another.
One incredibly intriguing aspect of our faith is the abundant use of paradoxes; as Catholic Christians we seem to relish countering the attitude of modern society with them. At the same time on a personal level, these paradoxes even rub against the grain of our own human nature in our struggle towards holiness of life.