Isaiah 1:10-17 / Matthew 10:34 - 11:1
The Eucharist is the highest form of worship in the Church because it is Jesus who offers Himself to the Father, and we unite with Jesus in His sacrifice.
Hence, the Eucharist is indeed the source and summit of our faith and life.
In the Eucharist we receive an outpouring of God's grace as we receive Jesus in Holy Communion.
Yet at the same time, it may bother us to see that the celebration of the Eucharist may seem so bland and the Catholic life and spirituality seems so lethargic.
If that is the case and if we are asking ourselves why, then the 1st reading may shed some light into our question.
It seems that God is lamenting that the sacrifices that were offered to Him were unclean and blemished and unworthy.
Simply because the hearts of the people were unclean and wicked and hence their offerings and sacrifices were just a reflection of the state of their hearts.
How can God's grace enter into hearts that are contaminated by sin and wickedness?
And how can we say that the Eucharist does not seem to have any effect when it is we who are at fault?
Jesus comes with a sword to cut away the sin and wickedness in our hearts so that we can be made a worthy offering to God.
May we detest our sins and turn to Jesus who will cleanse us and heal us and make of us a worthy offering to God, and in turn receive peace and joy from Him.