When someone is performing a good deed, don’t stop them. Here is my story:

I was having lunch on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend at a buffet-style restaurant in Eastgate (which I will not name). The place was packed with a long line of people waiting to get in. I paid, but the cashier never gave me a receipt as she was rushing people through. I found a table so far in the back, the waitress never even saw me. I left my table briefly to get some ice cream after finishing the main meal. When I returned, I found my table filled with dirty dishes stacked high on a tray. I moved the dishes aside. I ate my vanilla ice cream topped with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. I drank only a sugar-free Coke because I was dieting.

When the waitress came over to remove the dirty dishes, she was surprised to see me sitting there. She thought the table was empty. She did not see a receipt on the table.

The waitress said, “Hello there. I bet you snuck in without paying, didn’t you?” Before I could answer she continued, “Don’t worry, I won’t report you. You must be hungry. You poor dear, when was the last time you ate?”

I replied, “It’s been a while.” (Ten minutes between meals is a long time for me.) She said, “You can’t live on ice cream. Go up to the buffet and get yourself a good meal. Don’t worry about paying. I’ll cover it.” So, I ate another meal that I already paid for unbeknownst to her.

The waitress came back and asked, “Are you full? I bet it takes a lot to fill that tummy.” We both laughed. I replied, “More than you’ll ever know.”

My waitress came over to me again asking, “You probably don’t have money to eat tonight. Take this ten dollars and get something at McDonalds.” I tried to refuse but she would not take “no” for an answer.\

Before leaving, the waitress surprisingly thanked me. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to live my Christian faith today. We Christians need to do more walkin’ and less talkin’.” I replied, “Thank you for showing me how to do that.”

Immediately I went to the cashier. I deposited the ten dollars into the box earmarked for disabled veterans. I told the cashier, “The waitress over there wants to pay for my meal, but I already paid for it. Please give her this twenty-dollar t ip.” Christianity came alive for me that day. It was a golden moment in a corral of hungry people.

Today, Catholics celebrate “Corpus Christi”, the Body of Christ. We remind ourselves of what it means to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. “Eucharist” is a Greek word that means “to give thanks”. Eucharist is a word that is also a verb, not just a noun. By its very definition Eucharist demands action. Eucharist is more than just receiving Jesus into your soul. It is also witnessing to Jesus by the deeds of your life. The best way to thank Jesus for loving you is to love others. Jesus calls you to “eucharist” others with the same care, compassion, forgiveness and sacrifice He has shown you. The waitress of my story “eucharisted” me outrageously well, even though I was a complete stranger.

Luke describes what Jesus said at the Last Supper. “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’” (Luke 22:19) For our sake, Jesus gave up His Body as the ultimate sign of God’s sacrificial love on the Cross. Then Jesus says, “Do this in remembrance of me.” What are we to remember? As Jesus sacrificed for you, Jesus calls you to “give up your body” in sacrifice for another.

Every mother and father who cares for their children gives, up their body. Every soldier who defends our country, gives up their body. Every caregiver who sacrifices for the well-being of another, gives up their body. Every family that adopts a baby or takes in an orphan, gives up their body. Anyone who makes sacrifices for Jesus, gives up their body to thank Jesus who gave up His Body for you. This is what it means to live the Eucharist. Blessings…Fr. Mike