Olive Garden and The Mass

Just recently, I bought a book titled “ ‘The Mass’ -- the Glory, The Mystery, The Tradition - written by Cardinal Donald Wuerl and Mike Aquilina. I was excited to find the book and not having had it long, I’ve just started reading it.
One thing that stood out with me right away, when I first started reading the pages, was how the two authors described the Mass -- “The Mass is what Catholics do”. How beautifully said, I thought. In its simplicity, it summed up so magnificently, how Catholics relate to the Mass. Also, it’s noted the Mass keeps us spiritually alive and although constant and commonplace, it’s rich and complex -- because each part holds a special significance and meaning.
The cover of the book is absolutely beautiful and depicts the ‘Last Supper’ so warmly, it invites you to want to read every page written in the book. During Lent, with Easter approaching -- I thought about how much importance the Last Supper meant in my life.
When I turned my attention to Mass and the Last Supper -- silly as it may seem, I thought about it in this way. On Sunday, Easter Sunday, I’m planning to have a nice dinner out with my family after attending Mass. I chose the Olive Garden as an example, because it’s one of our favorite places. When I thought about the tasty breadsticks and the delicious Moscato wine, I related them to the Last Supper. How much do we enjoy sitting down with friends or loved ones at a special time of year to celebrate a joyous occasion and have a wonderful meal at a nice restaurant such as the Olive Garden?
I thought about how Jesus shared with his beloved disciples, his loved ones, the bread and wine that would be his body and blood on Good Friday. Although the tasty breadsticks and delicious wine hold little importance compared to the bread and wine Jesus shared with his disciples -- their significance is that they provide us nourishment for our bodies, whereby, the bread and wine Jesus offers us at Mass provides us with nourishment too -- nourishment for our bodies and souls, that we may have eternal life with Him.
When I walk up to the altar to receive the body and blood of my Lord, Jesus Christ -- I think about my Heavenly reward -- to someday be with Him and to obtain the spiritual nourishment I need constantly, can only be received in mass through the Holy Eucharist.
Olive Garden, as many of the other restaurants are great places to celebrate special occasions, especially ones that are very very important to us -- but this Easter, when I go there, or maybe one of the others with my loved ones, and feast on some of the delicious bread and wine in celebration of Jesus’ rising from the dead -- first I’ll go to church with those I love and receive the spiritual nourishment that can only come from the bread and wine Jesus gives me there, in the celebration of the Mass, -- because it’s like the authors of the book said -- “The Mass” -- it’s what we Catholics do.

By the time this is published, I’m sure you will have celebrated a joyous and blessed Easter I hope.