Jesus in the Eucharist: Living the Evangelical Counsels of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience
Praise be to Jesus Christ
Albert Schweitzer was awarded the Nobel Prize for his philosophy of “Reverence for Life.” He undertook humanitarian work, particularly in founding and sustaining a Hospital in Lambarene, Gabon. Moreover, his commitment to peace and humanity extended beyond his medical work. There is an interesting incident behind his transformative life. One day, while travelling in a train, he noticed an old man and a young man engaged in a deep conversation. As the old man was about to get down, the young man asked him about the purpose and his familiarity with the place. The old man said that he was going to visit his son, who was in comma, and he was new to the place. The young man, with great kindness, offered to accompany him. This was an eye-opener for Schweitzer. He thought how great it could be if he dedicated his whole life to serving others. And he took a novel step to dedicate his life to the betterment of others.
Today’s Gospel shows how much Jesus cared for the people. He multiplied the bread so they would not go hungry. This miracle points to something deeper: His lasting concern for us, which continues in the gift of the Holy Eucharist .As we are celebrating this great feast, today, let us meditate on The Eucharistic Lord; an icon of perfect living of Evangelical Counsels. At first glance, it appears as a miracle of generosity—but hidden within it is the shining witness of how Jesus lived the evangelical counsels: poverty, chastity, and obedience. These are not abstract virtues in His life, but living realities, shining even in a moment of breaking bread for a hungry crowd.
Let us meditate on how each of the counsels Jesus lived in the given passage and allow them to stir our hearts toward deeper discipleship.
OBEDIENCE: Listening and Submitting in Love
Jesus, the eternal Word, the Teacher, the Master, and yet He shows his humility to listens. When the disciples came to him speaking about the hunger of the people and asked Him to dismiss the crowd, Jesus did not respond by asserting authority or showing divine foresight. Though He knew what He would do, He did not act as a performer working alone. He respected their concern and cooperated with their limited vision, and He walked with them in their pace.
However, we see the greatest obedience in the gesture He makes before the miracle: “Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke them” (Lk 9:16). Jesus, the Son of God, did not act without looking to the Father, without aligning Himself to the will and love of Abba. That simple act, looking up to heaven, is not just a physical movement. It is the movement of His entire being: everything in Him flows from the Father, and returns to the Father. In that gaze and thanksgiving we can see the heart of perfect obedience.
Later, in the Eucharist, this obedience reaches its height. He places Himself fully into the hands of the priest, who may be weak, sinful, or unworthy. Yet, Jesus obeys. He comes upon the altar at a single word of the priest: “This is My Body.” What a profound mystery of obedience.
CHASTITY: Undivided Love in a Hungry World
Chastity is often misunderstood as simply “not marrying.” However, true chastity is much more: it is a heart completely available for God and totally open to others. It is the union of love that seeks nothing for itself.
In today’s Gospel passage, we see that love. The people had followed Jesus to a “lonely place.” They were hungry not only for food but for meaning, for healing, for truth. And Jesus does not turn them away. He speaks to them about the Kingdom, He heals the sick, and then He feeds them. He gives Himself completely; spiritually and physically.
This is chastity: a life poured out in love. Jesus had no family of His own, no private space, no moment where He was unwilling to be disturbed. His time, His energy, His attention—He gave it freely to all. And He could do this only because He was in complete union with the Father.
The Eucharist is the continuation of this chaste love. Jesus, in the Host, belongs to no one and to everyone. He gives Himself freely to all, rich or poor, saint or sinner. He is silent, vulnerable, exposed, and yet fully loving. What deeper form of chaste love can there be?
POVERTY: Giving All and Keeping Nothing
Nowhere in this passage do we see Jesus set aside something for Himself. He does not ask the crowd to bring Him food first. He does not keep a loaf hidden away for the journey ahead. In fact, the very nature of the miracle shows us something astonishing: “Then He gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people”(Lk 9:16). Jesus gives away everything. His own hands break the bread, and His own heart blesses it. But He does not keep any part of it. He entrusts it all to the disciples for others. And when it is over, we hear: “They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve baskets of broken pieces that were left over” (Lk 9:17).
Jesus did not store. He trusted in abundance. That is true Gospel poverty, to give what you have without fear, knowing that the Father provides. Jesus and His disciples were content with leftovers. They were not interested in privilege or comfort. They loved poverty because poverty made room for trust.
In the Eucharist, we find the fullest expression of Jesus’ poverty. He becomes bread common, simple, and breakable. The King of Heaven makes Himself poor so that we might be filled.
From that manger to the cross, and from the cross to the altar, Jesus shows us what it means to live poor , not to have nothing, but to possess nothing for oneself. His poverty was not lack, but total generosity.
The Eucharist: The School of the Evangelical Counsels
In this one Gospel passage, we are given a window into the entire life and mission of Jesus:
- His obedience to the Father’s will
- His chaste love for the people
- His poverty of self so others may be fed
These are not simply virtues we admire in Him. They are invitations for us. The Eucharist is not only a mystery to adore but it is a life to imitate. If we kneel before the Host but refuse to be broken, if we receive Communion but refuse to give ourselves, we have missed the message that Jesus gives today.
Jesus calls us not only to worship the Eucharist but to become Eucharist – to be blessed, broken, and shared. On this feast day we must remember that, the altar is not only a place where Christ is offered but it is the place where we learn how to offer ourselves.
So let us come to the Holy mass and to the Alter not as visitors, but as disciples. Let us ask Jesus to teach us how to live the Gospel counsels. In a world starving for meaning, love, and trust, may we, like Jesus, become bread for others.
Oh! Holy Eucharist! Transform me into a Eucharist…
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God Bless…
