Beautiful Eucharist: A Lifelong Longing
If you didn’t receive your free copy of Matthew Kelly’s Beautiful Eucharist and wish to join the parish-wide reading of the book, see Kathy or Judy in the parish office. There may still be a few extra copies.
In “Do You Know Where You’re Going?”, Lisa Hendey relates how different chapters of her life brought her new and different appreciations for Eucharist. At her childhood parish, St. Barbara’s, she realized that “loving the Eucharist meant loving and caring for one another and anyone we met who was in need.” Has your experience in receiving Eucharist changed in any way the way you love and care for others?
Describing her time at Notre Dame, Lisa says, “I loved what I believed the Eucharist to be: Jesus Christ, body, and soul, living within my heart. I did not have profound terminologies to explain the precepts of my faith. But I knew beyond a doubt that Jesus was truly present in the Eucharist. And so I longed to experience that gift daily despite the many ways in which I knew I fell short of such worthiness of grace.” What prompts you to long for Eucharist?
When reflecting on her marriage of 35 years, Lisa “could see how our trust in God’s plan and my abiding love for Christ’s True Presence in the Eucharist have sustained me.” How has Eucharist sustained you in your life? In your marriage? In your relationships with others? In your relationship with God?
Later, Lisa says, “Despite my occasional frustrations with the machinations of the institutional Church and the misdeeds of her people, myself included, I remain fully, inexorably bound to the gift of Jesus Christ, truly present in the Eucharist.” How ought we share with others that any frustration or anger with the institutional Church should not deter them from receiving Eucharist?
Wish to share your thoughts or see how others are responding to these questions? Join the conversation in the "Comment" section below.
In the peace of Christ,
Bob
Comments
Brenda BredesonPosted on 1/30/24
Pope Benedict XVI summarizes our role in evangelization beautifully:
“Anyone who has discovered Christ must lead others to him. A great joy cannot be kept to oneself. It has to be passed on.” How can we not?
Steven HumbletPosted on 1/28/24
A follow up to Jim's "The Sacrament of the Eucharist is that relationship." Well worded and puts a lot of those peripheral fustrations well to the side.
steve
Jim MartinPosted on 1/25/24
Bob, Your question regarding frustration and sometimes anger with the institutional church drew my attention. At times, I have found myself with frustrations and, at other times have agreed with friends on some subjects that caused frustration. The answer for me is that we are all human beings and by definition are not perfect in thought or deed, Jesus is perfect and the Word of God is perfect. So I think a relationship with the perfect is worth getting closer too regardless of what may happen. The Sacrament of the Eucharist is that relationship. Jim