Father's Reflection 8.18.24

How the Eucharist responds to our problems

Here’s a recap for the points on the Eucharist that we have been covering the last few weeks, based on the Sunday Gospels we are hearing from John Chapter 6 this month:
1. We are distracted and too busy: Jesus in the Eucharist is fully, radically present to us, inviting us to give our attention to Him in return.
2. We are spiritually complacent, resistant to sacrificing our comfort: Jesus in the Eucharist offers Himself completely in sacrifice on the cross, inviting us to offer our time/attention, prayers, works, joys, and sufferings as our sacrifice with Him to the Father during the Mass.
3. We are lonely and anxious: Jesus in the Eucharist becomes one flesh with us, satisfying the deepest desires of our heart for total communion/union with God.
The Eucharist is PRESENCE, SACRIFICE, and COMMUNION, responding to the distraction, complacency, and isolation we too often experience in our lives!
Rejoice in hope,
Fr. Joel