In a profound reflection on the central sacrament of Christian faith, Reverend Father George Adimike has elucidated the pivotal role of the Eucharist in the divine plan of salvation. Writing on December 8, 2025, Adimike presents the Eucharist not merely as a ritual but as the very capsule containing the mystery of Christ and the essence of Christian existence.
The Eucharist as Divine Love and Salvation
Fr. Adimike roots his exposition in the foundational scripture of John 3:16, which declares God's immense love for the world. He argues that the entire narrative of the Incarnation and the Paschal mystery—Christ's passion, death, and resurrection—is a monumental expression of this love. This divine love is therapeutic, liberating, and ultimately saving.
The Eucharist, he states, is where this love is encapsulated and made perpetually present. It continues Christ's real presence on earth and actively fosters communion with the Holy Trinity. Therefore, the Eucharist functions dually: it assures believers of Christ's abiding presence and facilitates their deep communion with God.
Presence, Sacrifice, and the Building of the Church
The article delves into the Eucharist as the ultimate gift of self-giving love, prefigured at the Last Supper and fulfilled on the Cross. Christ's Resurrection affirmed that love conquers death, and this victory imbues the Eucharistic bread and wine with profound salvific power. Fr. Adimike describes the Eucharist as defining the whole Paschal mystery, allowing the Church to celebrate the entire history of salvation from Incarnation to Glorious Resurrection.
He further explores the inseparable relationship between the Eucharist and the Church. The Church makes the Eucharist, and the Eucharist builds the Church. They exist in a harmonious, complementary bond where one cannot be without the other. In the sacramental celebration, Jesus Christ remains the chief celebrant, acting through validly ordained priests who are configured to Him.
Thanksgiving as a Way of Life
A key insight is the transformation of the faithful through reception. We do not just consume the Eucharist; we are called to become what we receive—living thanksgivings. This 'thanksliving' evolves into a dynamic relationship with God, glorifying Him and drawing believers into His glory. The Eucharist thus becomes a pedagogy of divine love and a microcosm of Christ's mystery.
Fr. Adimike also addresses the use of ordinary elements—bread and wine—contrasting it with Gnostic views that deem matter evil. He affirms the goodness of creation and Christ's wisdom in using everyday materials to make salvation accessible to all.
Finally, he draws a powerful parallel between family meals, which often involve the sacrifice of an animal to foster communion, and the supernatural meal of the Eucharist. Here, Christ is both the sacrificial Lamb and the nourishing Food, whose shed blood establishes an eternal bond of love. The Eucharist, therefore, is an encounter that transforms believers into beneficiaries and missionaries of God's salvation.
Fr. George Adimike can be reached via george.adimike@catholicpriest.org.
