CHRIST, THE HEART OF THE WORLD

By Sean O'Leary

In many ancient traditions, the axis mundi, the sacred centre of the world, was seen as a holy place where heaven kissed the earth: a tree, a mountain or a temple where God’s presence felt near but was only available to the few. In our Christian faith, Jesus Christ becomes this sacred centre, opening his heart to all people and giving us the Eucharist as the living heartbeat of creation, where we meet him and are drawn into his love.

Through his life, death and resurrection, Jesus changes what it means to find the centre of the world. He is the bridge between heaven and earth, the one who says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). On the cross, with arms stretched wide, he embraces every soul, and as he is lifted up, he promises to “draw all people” to himself (John 12:32).

No longer is God’s presence confined to one place or one people because Jesus makes it possible for every heart to find its home in him. At the Last Supper, Jesus gives us the Eucharist, a gift that keeps his presence close. Taking simple bread and wine, he calls them his body and blood and asks us to share this meal “in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).

In the Eucharist, we find the true centre of all things, a place where Christ meets us, loves us, and makes us one with him and each other: past, present and future. The Eucharist begins with us, with the work of our hands and the gifts of the earth. We bring forward bread and wine, crafted from the grain and grapes God has given us. This is the first transformation, a humble offering of our labour and love. As we place these gifts on the altar during Mass, we’re saying “thank you” to God, offering back what he has so generously provided. It’s a beautiful moment, reminding us that we are part of God’s creation, invited to join in his work of love.

Then comes the sacred moment of consecration. The priest, standing in the place of Christ, speaks those holy words: “This is my body… This is my blood.” Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the bread and wine become the true body and blood of Jesus. This is the second transformation, where God’s love more fully breaks into our world, and the altar is a meeting place of heaven and earth. In this moment, the Eucharist becomes the heart of the world, where Christ is truly present, offering himself to us again and again.

The Eucharist is more than a moment in Mass, it’s the place where we find Jesus and become one with him. As St. Paul says, “We, though many, are one body, for we all share the one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:17). In the Eucharist, we are united with God and with each other, no matter who we are or where we come from. It’s where heaven touches earth, where Christ’s love is recognised as the heartbeat and fulfilment of all creation. This sacred mystery fills us with wonder, awe and reverence.

Through the work of our hands in offering bread and wine, and through God’s transforming love in the consecration, the Eucharist invites us to know deeply that Christ is the centre of our lives. When we receive him, we carry his presence into the world, sharing his love with every step. Let us come to the Eucharist with open hearts, finding in it the true axis mundi — the heart of Jesus, where all are welcome, and all are made one in love and unity.