Today’s Gospel reading from Our Lord’s ‘Bread of Life Discourse’ is prefaced by a first reading taken from 1 Kings.  The Prophet Elijah is dispirited by his situation in life and wishes he were dead.  However, God has a great task in store for him.  He must journey forty days to Mount Horeb in the North of Israel where he is to encounter God and learn his purpose.  To put fresh heart in him and strengthen him for the journey God sends an angel to provide him with bread and water just as he provided manna for the Israelites in the time of Moses.  This is why hymns in honour of the Eucharist describe it as ‘food of travellers’ – ‘esca viatorum’. 

Life is a journey for all of us.  The consoling presence of Christ in the Eucharist is God’s way of sustaining us and renewing us in spirit on our own journey when the going gets tough or life just seems flat and pointless.  The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist not only strengthens us but is a pledge and foretaste of the final encounter with the Lord at the end of our lives.  This is especially true when that journey is close to its end and our next Communion is likely to be our last. 

This ‘last Communion’ is called ‘viaticum’ – ‘food for the journey’ -  and is one reason why when someone is seriously ill the priest should be called while they are still conscious and able to receive the Eucharist.  This step should not be delayed out of a misplaced sense that the person will be frightened.  The priority should be their spiritual need to be ready to see God face to face.  Often it is the family rather than the dying person that does not want to face the reality that death may be close.