THERE’S A MOMENT IN the Mass where all the noise, the stress, the worry disappear and you come face to face with Christ. This is not merely a symbol or a ritual, it is Christ Himself, present and inviting.
At Communion when we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, we encounter God’s profound love as He offers us the greatest gift: the opportunity for eternal life in Heaven.
SERVITE SENIOR EMANUEL GUERRERO LEADS A EUCHARISTIC PROCESSION ON THE SERVITE CAMPUS.
I recall a moment when the Eucharist had a profound impact on me. While I was attending Mass at my middle school, St. Catherine’s Academy, a sense of intense calm came over me as the priest raised the host and recited the consecration. I knew God was with me in that moment. I understood that the Eucharist involves more than just remembering Jesus’ sacrifice; it also encompasses feeling His love in the present. We often look for profound, transformative encounters with Christ but overlook His subtle signals. The Eucharist can be both subtle and profound, inviting us to establish a connection with Christ.
The Eucharist acts as a bridge between the gaps of Heaven and Earth. Communion is where we meet not just God but also all the other believers from the past, present and future: a reminder that we belong to a larger body of love When receiving the Eucharist, I experience a feeling of satisfaction that other people around the world are doing the same thing, united in faith and purpose.
The Eucharist also leads us to act. When we accept Christ, we are invited to take on His traits— to live a life of holiness. Indeed, holiness is the only path to heaven. Real holiness is to love God with all our heart, mind and soul, as well as our neighbor. Revealed in the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, this profound love is always present when we participate in the Eucharist.
The Eucharist has been my comfort in moments of despair. No matter how lonely or how crowded life may seem, I know that God is by my side. The Eucharist only magnifies this feeling, providing a tangible way to feel the presence of Christ.
Something that always amazes me is Christ’s humility in the Eucharist. He comes in the humblest of ways, in bread and wine, so that there are no walls between us. He gives us the invitation: “Take this all of you and eat of it, this is my body.” Through the gift of free will, God gives us the opportunity to follow Him. This is a love that does not impose itself but waits for us with infinite patience and grace.
The Eucharist is, secondly, a celebration of thanksgiving. We have been given so many graces, and to offer our Mass as a chance to show our gratitude for all of them is such an important practice. Even on the hardest days, there is a little something that we can be thankful for: A new day, a kind word and breath in our bodies. Acknowledging these gifts changes our outlook and improves our actual vision of recognizing Christ’s presence.
As I continue my journey of faith in an ever-changing world, the Eucharist remains central. I may never be able to fully comprehend it… and perhaps that is the point. Love doesn’t need to be understood; it needs to be felt and expressed. I affirm that love by receiving the Eucharist and pushing myself to let go of my doubts and fears to take Christ’s steps. The Eucharist refocuses us on the fact that no matter what is thrown at us, God’s love is forever. It is an intimate gift and invitation to a timeless, heavenly event. For this gift, I am profoundly grateful.