• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
The monstrance is pictured during Eucharistic adoration at the July 18, 2024, second revival night of the National Eucharistic Congress at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (OSV News photo/Bob Roller)

A Eucharistic Word: Embodied

February 19, 2025
By Michael R. Heinlein
OSV News
Filed Under: Commentary, Eucharist

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

At a recent Sunday Mass, our curious kindergartener leaned over to me and asked why we trace a small cross on our forehead, lips and heart as the Gospel is about to be proclaimed. I remember asking my own mother the same thing at a similar age, and I still remember her response: “So that Jesus is in our minds, words and heart.”

There are a variety of little gestures at Mass that we can miss or take for granted. I was so encouraged that our daughter was interested in the meaning of this simple, easily overlooked gesture. And I was renewed in appreciating its significance as I pondered her question in prayer.

Words matter. “I love you,” a husband says to his wife. Words create. “Let there be light,” God began the cosmos. Words have power. “This is my body,” as priests echoing Christ’s own confect the Eucharist. The Word was made flesh and dwelled among us. “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,” Christ instructs.

The Word proclaimed, especially so when among the assembly of believers at Mass, is truly Christ’s presence. It is “living and effective,” as Hebrews explains (Heb 4:2). “Dei Verbum,” the Second Vatican Council’s dogmatic constitution on Divine Revelation, explains that “the Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord” and “unceasingly receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life from the table both of God’s word and of Christ’s body” (No. 21).

Much of our “practice” of Catholicism is cooperating with God’s grace so that the Word is made flesh in us. While we hope to say, like St. Paul, that “it is Christ who dwells in me” (Gal 2:20), it also requires us to put our whole entire self into this work.

Thinking of the crosses we trace on ourselves at the Gospel at Mass, my mind immediately came to that image of Christ as Way, Truth and Life. It seems most fitting that as we prepare to receive Christ’s presence in the word to call with a prayer that he comes to live more fully in us — in our minds, in our words, in our actions.

We pray that as we hear Christ in the Gospel, he orders and instructs our minds. When Christ dwells there, we commit anew to following his way. In taking on the attitude of Christ, we take him as our model and example.

We pray that as we hear Christ in the Gospel, he forms and informs our words. Christ is the truth we are called to speak at all times. From our lips all should know Christ dwells in us. Jesus left crowds “astonished” because he taught “as one having authority” (Mt 7:29). When we speak, we must reflect that authority we have given him.

We pray that as we hear Christ in the Gospel, he shapes and recreates our hearts. Christ, the bread of life, bestows life upon all who eat his flesh and drink his blood. Christ lives in us when we live his life, when we love as he loves. In our eucharistic living, we take up Christ’s life of love: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:13).

Hearing Christ in the Gospel, allowing his words to transform us — as they change bread and wine into his body and blood — is to embody Christ in all things.

The Mass is one act of worship, in two parts: Word and Eucharist. It is upon these that the door to salvation hinges. As each of us endeavors to more fully seek conformity with Christ in our mind, our will and our heart, may we remember this truth. And by his grace, especially that made present in the Eucharist, may we allow the Word made flesh to be embodied in us more each day.

Read More Commentary

Cupcakes with 2025 graduation toothpicks in them and a bowl of cookies

Our 31-hour Road Trip

St. Paul and discovering that sin is ‘missing the mark’

Six lit candles on a chocolate birthday cake

Making a birthday wish come true

Pilgrims of Hope: Walking the Way of St. Francis in the Year of Jubilee

The fisherman and the pharisee

A loaf of sliced bread

We are part of the miracle

Copyright © 2025 OSV News

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Michael R. Heinlein

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

Cupcakes with 2025 graduation toothpicks in them and a bowl of cookies

Our 31-hour Road Trip

St. Paul and discovering that sin is ‘missing the mark’

Six lit candles on a chocolate birthday cake

Making a birthday wish come true

Pilgrims of Hope: Walking the Way of St. Francis in the Year of Jubilee

The fisherman and the pharisee

| Recent Local News |

Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors

DUAL ENROLLMENT

Double the learning: Dual enrollment provides college credit to high school students

St. Mary’s purchases former Annapolis Area Christian School

Radio Interview: Exploring the Nicene Creed – Part Two

St. Clement Mary Hofbauer adapts to times, cultures as it celebrates 100th anniversary

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Judge blocks Trump birthright citizenship order as part of class action lawsuit
  • Ukraine religious leaders issue ‘desperate cry’ to world to end Russia’s war
  • Pope Leo wears Chicago-made vestments to July 9 ‘care of creation’ Mass
  • Movie Review: Sorry, Baby
  • ICE deports Iowa parishioner to Guatemala homeland as supporters pray for his release
  • Come away and rest awhile
  • French woman hopes sharing mystical encounter with Minnesota Benedictine helps sainthood cause
  • Pope: Vatican still ready to host peace talks between Russia, Ukraine
  • Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en