AS WE SCRUTINIZE our world, we can become despondent at the widespread crime, hatred and violence running rampant or we can focus on Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Through His life, passion, death and resurrection,
Jesus has won the victory over sin and death and desires to share that triumph with us. It behooves us to choose our response. One of the best ways is to consistently meet Jesus at Mass and receive Him in Holy Communion.
The Catholic Church describes the Eucharist – the Sacrifice of the Mass – as “the source and summit of the Christian life.” (CCC 1324)
At every Mass celebrated daily throughout the world, Jesus continues His sacrifice on Calvary, offering Himself to the Father on behalf of each one of us for our eternal salvation. When we receive Him in Holy Communion, we are united with Him in a profound union greater than with any other. Jesus longs for this intimacy with us and desires that we live in His love, for He knows, loves and understands each of us far more than we can comprehend or imagine.
“The Church has received the Eucharist from Christ her Lord not as one gift … among so many others, but as the gift par excellence, for it is the gift of himself…” (St. John Paul ll)
What can we do and to whom can we turn when feeling discouraged or uncertain? To Jesus! That is what the Disciples on the road to Emmaus did, albeit unwittingly. The two, forlorn and hopeless, were returning to Emmaus engrossed in conversation when a stranger joined them on the road. He asked what they were talking about. They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, responded: “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?’ And he replied to them, ‘What sort of things?’ … ‘But we were hoping’ …” (Lk. 24:17–19, 21) They invited him to stay with them and “…while he was with them at table, He took bread, said the blessing, broke it and gave it to them. … They recognized Him, but He vanished from their sight.
Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning … while he spoke to us on the way …?” (Lk. 24:30 – 32)
Jesus wants to reveal Himself to us in the Eucharist, speak to us and be with us; giving an opportunity to share our hopes; dreams; sorrows; joys; our very heart with Him. So often we ignore Him or get sidetracked, failing to respond to this longing of His Heart. Do we want to be with Him? If so, how do we respond to Jesus’ invitation to “Come to Me and be with Me” in the Eucharist?
FOR YOUR FAMILY:
■ Attend Mass, receiving Jesus in Holy Communion on weekdays as well as Sundays.
■ Make a Holy Hour during your parish’s Exposition, being with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
■ Pray with Eucharistic Prayer IV, starting after the “Holy, Holy.” Substitute plural words with personal ones, allowing your heart to absorb the reality of Jesus’ gift. Example: “I (We) give you praise, Father most holy, for … you have fashioned me (all your works) in wisdom and in love. You formed me (man) in your own image and entrusted the whole world to my (his) care…”
■ The National Eucharistic Revival is our country’s response to Jesus’ invitation to “Do This in Memory of Me.” Information and presentations on the Eucharistic Congress which was held in Indianapolis this past July are at https//www.eucharisticcongress.org/