“Free Coffee” by Rick Stevens, Fiat Ventures
Palm Sunday
Imagine hearing from a friend that Starbucks was giving out a free coffee every day for the rest of your life. And not only that but the more you visited Starbucks and drank their coffee, the better your chances would be of living a long and happy life. The offer is good at nearly 13,000 Starbucks locations in the U.S.
Learning more about this incredible offer, you also find out that when you fully believe in Starbucks coffee and tell others about it, you receive the reward of eternal life. Pretty good deal, right?
Well, I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that this offer is fantasy and will never come true. The good news is that I have another offer that is actually better.
The Gospel for Palm Sunday, in addition to recounting the events of Jesus’ Passion and Death, also tells the story of the Last Supper when Jesus changes bread and wine into His Body and Blood. The Last Supper represents the institution of the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of the Christian life. It represents our assent to faith, our hope for eternal salvation and the love and charity we have for one another.
Even more importantly, when we receive the Eucharist at Mass, we have a personal encounter with the living Christ who dwells in our hearts and souls.
In another passage from John’s gospel, Jesus tells us, “I am the bread of life…Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” (Jn 6:35, 6:58). By receiving the Sacrament of the Eucharist, we not only open up the possibility of eternal salvation, we are nourished and aided on our journey there through sanctifying grace.
The Eucharist is available virtually every day of the year at over 18,000 locations throughout the United States. So on your next trip to Starbucks, stop off to attend Mass on the way and partake in the Eucharist. It won’t cost you anything and it will make that cappuccino taste even better afterward.
