What’s in a name? The word “Eucharist” means thanksgiving. We all remember at least once a year to give thanks as we eat turkey, watch football, and take a day off. At least, I hope, we are thankful. But that word needs to be unloaded. We should be thankful to God. This thankfulness is not just a mood or disposition but a prayerfulness and fulfillment of a relationship with God. To alter a word in the operatic song, “every day is thanksgiving day for me.” The Scriptures tell us to dedicate ourselves to thankfulness. Does that mean we neglect prayers of asking, sorrow and adoration? No. But we may be neglecting thanksgiving at other times of the year. When we go to Mass, we must realize that Christ is still giving thanks (Eucharist) to God. Christ gives thanks to the Father. Christ can do this because he is also one of us, human. Listen to the words at Consecration: “… he himself took bread, and, giving thanks, he said the blessing…” Then “… he took the chalice, and, giving you thanks, he said the blessing…” When the bread is first offered, the celebrant says, “Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation…” That word, “blessed,” really means “thanks.” Notice the gesture of holding aloft the bread and wine. It is done in thanksgiving for all that God has given us. This bread will be changed into the living, substantial presence of Christ, still giving thanks in the Eucharist. We join our gratitude to his as between consecration and communion; Christ is giving thanks until we join him in a special way in thanksgiving. We thank him, and with him, thank the Father who is so good to us. It may be that on Sundays and weekdays, the faithful say to themselves, “I am going to church,” or “I am going to hear Mass,” or “I am going to celebrate the Liturgy.” All these phrases are good. But, maybe once in awhile, we could say to ourselves, “I am going to give thanks to and with Christ in the Eucharist”? There is no better way to give thanks to God than in this action, which gives us the word, “Eucharist” or “thanksgiving.” As the old prayer used to say, “What shall I give to the Lord for all he has given us? I will take the chalice of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.”
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