Handed Down Through the Ages

Christ did not leave His Church empty-handed. In this homily highlight, Fr. Gabe Cillo, MIC, draws our attention to a decisive moment in salvation history: Jesus chose the Apostles, entrusted Himself to them, and sent them forward to nourish the world. Though one betrayed Him, 11 remained faithful. At the Last Supper, Christ gave them the Sacrament of the Eucharist and ordained them to act in His name, commanding them, “Do this in memory of me” (Lk 22:19; NABRE). These words were not symbolic. They were a mandate to celebrate the Mass; to make present, in every age, what Christ first gave in the Upper Room. Through Apostolic succession, the Apostles handed on exactly what they themselves received: the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament. As the Catechism teaches, “The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324). Father Gabe reminds us that this sacred trust did not end with the Apostles. It continues today through bishops and priests who give, not merely their own gift, but Christ Himself to the people of God. Every valid Mass is an act of fidelity to that original command, a living continuation of the Lord’s promise to remain with His Church until the end of time (see Mt 28:20). The Sacraments are not human inventions or devotional extras. They are divine gifts, entrusted to the Church so that Christ’s saving work would never be confined to the past. In the Eucharist, Jesus remains truly present, offering Himself again and again for the life of the world. This is the inheritance of the Church — and the mercy Christ still places into our hands today. To learn more about how Christ continues His saving work through the Sacraments, explore Understanding the Sacraments at ShopMercy.org.