FEAR AND FAITH AND THE EUCHARIST

James Thomas

It has never been easy to live a Eucharistic life. When Jesus first proclaimed this mystery to his disciples, some were scandalized: “As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him” (John 6:66). The time we live in poses special challenges to faith. We live in a culture that has largely forgotten God. Faith is often presented as a dusty relic of a bygone day, and the Church as just one more flawed human institution.     Archbishop Paul Etienne- Seattle

Our Archbishop's document on the Eucharist was written well before the civil unrest and outright damning racism in our area as well as across America. So much of this comes out of fear and ignorance and a lack of faith. I always say where there is no faith there is fear!.

On the feast of Corpus Christi this year, the Holy father wrote:

“He comes as Bread broken in order to break open the shells of our selfishness. He gives of Himself in order to teach us that only by opening our hearts can we be set free from our interior barriers, from the paralysis of the heart.”

“God knows how difficult it is, He knows how weak our memory is … He did not just leave us words, for it is easy to forget what we hear. He did not just leave us the Scriptures, for it is easy to forget what we read. He did not just leave us signs, for we can forget even what we see. He gave us Food, for it is not easy to forget something we have actually tasted. He left us Bread in which He is truly present, alive and true, with all the flavor of his love.”

If only we truly believed, our fears would abate, and we would be left with love for all. For the “ strength of the Eucharist,  transforms us into bringers of God, bringers of joy, not negativity,”   God grant us faith!