THE EUCHARIST, MYSTERY AND LIFE FOR ALL
I like to think that all of us who believe in Jesus have had a supernatural or spiritual experience with God which has left an everlasting impact on our lives, embodied in our own, personal story. Those who know that God exists feel in their heart that He is alive; they are able to clearly feel His presence in different circumstances and times in daily life. Therefore today, I want to discuss the Sacrament of Sacraments, the presence of God in our daily life, through the Holy Eucharist.
When a priest raises the Bread and Wine to turn them into the Body and Blood of Christ through the recitation of the Consecration words, we undoubtedly have an opportunity to enter into a Mystery; we are seeing Jesus Himself in our presence! Sometimes, our limited understanding cannot grasp this only through reason; hence, it is a Mystery. However, we can clearly know His presence through Faith.
Thanks to the Eucharist, I have not lost my Faith
When I was young and about to make important decisions in my life, like getting married or starting a family, I had many doubts about my Faith, or simply did not think of my spiritual life as something important or relevant to daily life. I was just an average Catholic that did not abide by the requirements of the Faith.
Then, I started asking myself some tough questions when a close friend joined a Protestant church and his life changed dramatically. I found myself wishing to have this experience too, living my life closer to God. I started asking serious questions about Catholicism (the life changing testimony of Catholics tend to fail when compared to our brothers and sisters from other denominations).
So, I began to consistently study the Holy Scriptures, to think and to pray. And through that effort I began to understand some basic things when I approached the Eucharist. We know from the Bible that the Eucharist was given to us by Jesus, and the Eucharist is much more than a symbol of His presence, its literally Jesus Himself! He is here among us once again! To do His works in, through and with us.
Every time, during the Consecration of the Eucharist, we hear the very same words that Christ said at the Last Supper being repeated by the priest; who using the power given to him by the Church can turn bread and wine into Jesus’ Body and Blood.
All the questions I had regarding my Faith and Catholicism vanished as soon as I studied and analyzed the power of the Eucharistic in daily life. I remembered when I was seven and received my First Communion the power that I felt during that Mass. It was recalling the power of the Eucharist at that moment which prevented me from abandoning the Catholic Church later in life.
I knew that I could eventually answer and understand my other questions through study and prayer too. But I never doubted that the Sacrament of the Eucharist was something so huge and powerful that I held on tight to it, so much so that I never doubted or desired to get away from the Church again.
Let the Eucharist of Jesus heal you
Jesus discusses His actual presence in the Eucharist in many biblical passages. For instance, the brief account in the Gospel of John, where the Lord speaks clearly about this issue “then Jesus declared, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty”. (John 6:35).
Jesus previously claimed, consistently, that He is the Son of God. But people kept on asking for proof; they wanted to be certain beyond logic. He then claimed to be the Bread of Life “you will never go hungry by My side; you will have Life”.
Remember that under the Ancient Covenant, animals were offered in sacrifice to atone for personal and community sins. Sacrificial animals had to be perfect, without flaw. Thus, the scripture calls Jesus the unblemished Lamb that is offered for us and remains the true sacrifice forever to atone for our sins.
Jesus is the one who heals and saves us every time we take part in the Holy Mass and receive the healing of His sacrifice. This is why I want to urge you to use this magnificent gift and attend the Eucharist full of Faith and devotion. Take part in the Mystery of the His presence in daily life and leave there all your afflictions, doubts, fears and uncertainties, your pain and sorrow. Jesus, who is actually present, will heal you; for by His stripes you are healed. (1 Peter 2:24 & Isaiah 53:5)
I think Catholics must reestablish their devotion to the power of the Holy Eucharist. Either they do not know, or they are not aware that when we receive Communion we receive the complete, perfect power of Jesus; they do not grasp or appreciate what a miracle this is and totally miss what He offers to us in our daily life in and through the Eucharist.
A chance to thank and pray
Therefore, I now beg you to please pray for priests. It is thanks to the priest’s willingness and generous service to us that we can receive the magnificent Sacrament of the Eucharist. It only stands to reason that they are tempted by evil, who only wants to make them fall because they are the way and means used by Christ to openly appear before His Church and give away His gifts of healing and happiness.
We must understand the importance of priests, pray for them and approach them with love. Take care of and be concerned about their happiness and stability.
Now, I want to thank you for your prayers for ESNE. It is thanks to you that ESNE has so many means available to spread messages of Hope and make know the Power of the Sacraments like the Holy Eucharist, the food for the soul, to people who cannot physically attend Mass for whatever reason; they can still partake in this Mystery and change the course of their daily life.
Thank you for your prayers and contributions to make the Word of God and the Presence of God come alive in the Eucharist to millions of people every day and everywhere on satellite, cable, radio, internet. May God multiply all you give from your heart to God’s for humankind!
May the Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe cover you with Her motherly cape and may the Eucharist of Jesus reward you in your daily life for your generosity, love and devotion as a good and faithful servant of Christ.
