Eucharist
Take a look at this map.
Maybe you’ve seen it before. Or maybe you’re like me, and the upcoming National Eucharistic Congress is intriguing you, so you’ve been reading about what’s about to go down at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
As you examine the cross-shaped path across our country, notice the four separate journeys, all converging in Indy. These four routes represent the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (May 17 - July 16), which ends in Indy as the National Eucharistic Congress commences on July 17 through July 21.
Something of this size and scope must point to something really big, right? Indeed.
Both the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and National Eucharistic Congress are part of the three-year National Eucharistic Revival, declared by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in order “to be united once again around the source and summit of our faith in the celebration of the Eucharist.” (online: www.eucharisticrevival.org)
What does the Eucharist mean to you?
Allow me to share with you, and I hope your mind and heart will be stirred with what the Eucharist means to you too.
The Eucharist is Jesus...
The Eucharist is not “it,” rather, the Eucharist is “who.” Jesus is the Eucharist, and I believe Jesus’ words at The Last Supper, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)
The Eucharist is a gift...
God’s endless love for us is revealed in the Eucharist. What a gift to receive Jesus during Communion. At Mass, I used to bow down during the Eucharistic prayers, but now I keep my head up and my eyes on Christ as much as I can. I don’t want to miss a thing.
The Eucharist is humbling…
A humble piece of bread, when consecrated to become Jesus, is humbling. It’s why some days when I genuflect before the altar or fall to my knees in Adoration, it’s a lot easier to stay there in awe and humility at how great God is. As St. Catherine of Siena said, “God is He Who is. I am she who is not.”
The Eucharist is healing…
Jesus’ Greatness and my littleness comforts and consoles me. Going to Mass and receiving the Eucharist has helped me on countless occasions. I have walked into Mass or Adoration feeling helpless, and have left feeling hopeful.
The Eucharist is Jesus’ presence within me…
After receiving Jesus, I pray, “Lord as I consume You, please consume me.”
Our school’s Campus Ministry Leader Lizzy has reminded the entire student body to really take time after receiving Jesus to recognize that this is the closest we can physically be to Him. I try to sit with this and reflect on Jesus within me after receiving the Eucharist.
The Eucharist is a great act of faith…
We cannot see the Divinity of Jesus. Before we consume the consecrated host, it could be examined and proven to be the substance of bread. Likewise, the consecrated wine is still the substance of wine. But even if cells were taken from Jesus 2,000 years ago, he would be proven human. However, we know he was both fully God and fully man. We can’t prove his Divinity from a sample of Him. The Eucharist is one of the greatest acts of faith: Jesus, I believe in the Eucharist because you said it. My eyes cannot see it, but my ears hear it. God doesn’t make it easy to believe the Eucharist is truly Jesus. That’s why we have faith.
May our minds and hearts be stirred, and may we take a little extra time to sit with Jesus and ponder the Eucharist in our own lives.