THE YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST

 

It is hard to believe that the year dedicated to the Eucharist in our Archdiocese comes to a close  tomorrow. 

Our Archbishop, Paul Etienne, had these words:

 Our Church is built upon the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. On the solemnity of Corpus Christi, we renew our faith in this mysterious but true presence of Christ in the eucharistic elements of bread and wine, which become his body and blood. It is this presence of Christ in the Church and all its members that makes the Church at once divine and human.

 To be all we are called to be as members of the Body of Christ, it is imperative that we celebrate well and regularly receive the Eucharist. 

 I know there are many things in this world competing for our time and attention — and the pandemic has created yet more obstacles — but for us to be fully Catholic members of this one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, we must grow in our understanding of the importance of regular reception of the Eucharist. It is the one thing Christ asked us to do for him: “Do this in memory of me.”

 A deeper appreciation for the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist is significant not only for the moment of celebrating Eucharist, but also for the great impact it is meant to have in transforming and redeeming individuals and the world in which we live. We are sent forth from every Eucharist to love and serve the Lord and one another.

The Eucharist (and the Church) is Christ’s chosen means of remaining with us until the end of time. As we receive Christ into our bodies, he is continuing the work of redemption, conforming us more and more to his truth, and transforming our priorities to the priorities of the Kingdom.

 We are to carry this same presence and person of Christ with us into the world and be authentic witnesses to the reality of his death and resurrection and his promise to come again. This is the process by which the world is conformed, transformed, converted into the Kingdom of God which has yet to come in all its fullness.

 How do I allow this presence of Christ in me to “speak” in moments of trial and temptation? How do I bring this presence of Christ in me to others? 

 As Christ poured himself out for our sake, so are we to give fully of ourselves to others. To do so is to empty oneself, and this gift of self (which is the gift of Christ) can only be “refilled” by renewing his life within us at the eucharistic feast.

 Thus, we see the unending cycle of life in our daily Christian life: dying to self, rising in Christ that the work and will of the Father might be fulfilled. This is our belief, that through the ordinary events of our daily life, the extraordinary work of Christ continues until the end of time, when he will return to make all things new.

                                                —  June 2021

I highly recommend Magnificat's Magazine "Adoration Companion".