I feel lucky to be working from home these days, for a number of reasons. One is that I now have quality time in the evenings that would normally be spent on a long commute from work in central London. 

 In trying to make the most of these evenings, I recently sat down to watch the Danish film Babette’s Feast. Set in 19th-Century Denmark, it’s a story of two sisters who take in Babette, a refugee from the French Civil War, to work as housekeeper in their rather stern home. While living in this grey, joyless Danish village, Babette learns that she has won a lottery in France. Instead of returning home with the lottery winnings, she decides to prepare a magnificent French banquet for the villagers, who initially find themselves unable to enjoy such a worldly feast. Before long, the meal brings them together in a way they had never experienced. Broken friendships are reformed, joy and delight in the company and the exquisite food are all realised. I think it is a film that has many parallels to the Eucharist. Babette’s selfless gift, the generous meal, the joy and blessings that it imparts, all reflect the Eucharist, which is the greatest act of God’s love for us.

Watching this film has made me think more about what the Eucharist means for us, and even more so in these days when many of us are unable to receive the Eucharist. In the Sacrament of the Eucharist, we Catholics believe that we receive Christ Himself. This might be a moment for us to truly realise what a privilege and a gift it is. In the other Sacraments of the Catholic Church, we receive the strength to help us to be more like Christ. In the Eucharist God remains in us. It is a powerful statement of how much God wants to be close to us.  We are given this wonderful opportunity to freely move towards Him. What an honour this is!  How much God wants us to love Him!  Christianity is full of men and women who plummeted the depths of this incredible reality.  St. Irenaeus (A.D. 140-202), bravely died for his belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.  

The closeness of God in the Eucharist is for everyone.  A friend has been volunteering at a Parish centre in London that regularly serves meals to the homeless. In these past weeks, at the request of the city council, they began serving two meals a day, seven days a week, for up to 200 guests at a time. The volunteers at this outreach centre are also providing more than just food: during the food services, the Eucharist is exposed on a small altar under a gazebo on the street just outside the church. Guests often join the volunteers - with social distancing in place - for Adoration or to pray the Rosary. She told me that the physical presence of Christ in the Eucharist has brought an incredibly powerful sense of peace over those in attendance. 

Maybe these days are an opportunity to reflect on how Christ shares His life with us in the Eucharist. This is our spiritual nourishment.  Can this truth help us to open ourselves to the power of this miracle?

Like Babette’s feast the Eucharist reminds us that Christ is at the centre of our Christian community. He alone can give us real joy in the midst of difficulties and challenges and give our human bonds the strength to endure. 

If we use this time well, this conviction of God’s closeness to us in the Eucharist will prepare us better for the time when  we will be able to attend Mass again, and receive His body and blood  again in the Eucharist.