Eucharist: "Be A Higher Up, Not a Stay Away"

                                                                                                    by Sr. Monica Faustina

There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious,
He would have given it to us. +St. John Vianney.

How do we respond to the following critics of God and the Holy Eucharist?

I don’t get anything out of Mass. How about Jesus Christ, Himself, in the Holy
Eucharist? My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. (Jn. 6:55). What more
could we ask for?

Are we living the lives of modern Americans who want “smoke and mirrors” or
excuses for not coming to church? Or, are we looking for immediate sensual
gratifications and stimulation as when watching the 24/7 internet coverage and
communications, visceral news and pleasure-hobby fulfillment through the always-at-
fingertips media? We come to Mass and God comes down from heaven and then
complain we don’t get anything out of it. God is not a thing. Don’t thing-ify God.

I don’t feel anything in the Eucharist, the actual “Bread and Wine” and in the
Mass celebration. We say, I would rather watch football or food channel. We use our
own will. But why not choose Jesus Christ? Do we always go on our feelings? Do we
feel anything when we sleep? Don’t we brush our teeth even when we don’t feel like it?
Don’t we feel and want to encounter Jesus’ real presence in every Mass as in “Bread
and Wine.” Why miss Him?

The priests are not worthy. But the Catholic Church never says priests are
saints or perfectly worthy. Was St. Peter worthy after he denied Jesus three times?
The Catholic Church declares priests are effective by the work itself from the work
performed. Jesus’s Real Presence does not come from the priests’ holiness, but by
virtue of the Lord Himself inherent in the work. By saying the Mass and having the
intention of the Church to celebrate the Mass validly, the priests make present Jesus in
the Eucharist although they are imperfect and have sins.

The church is corrupt. But do we know any church, organization, and business
that is not with sinners? The government, sports--NFL-- entertainment, and businesses
are filled with sinners and scandals. Despite that, do we completely stay out of them?
The church is full of hypocrites. But remember, if Christianity is about
anything, especially transformation from sinners to saints, we can be included.
Some take Christianity for granted. They say, the church will be there when
they are ready. This is an “escape clause.” They escape because they can. But the
reason is because they want to sleep on Sunday mornings, stay away from the church
or don’t want to join. Some prefer to stay in their comfort zones and with their
attachments. But let’s be mindful; let’s go deeper by making special acts of
concentration, focus, and appreciation.

Finally, why is it important to come to church? Jesus invites us. “… not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, .…”
(Hebrews 10:25); and “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats
this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the
world.” (Jn. 6:51.

Why do we forsake worshipping with others when Jesus commands us to
assemble together? Jesus promised that the life He gives is eternal and that He
Himself is the “Bread of Life,” which we should seek. We miss the fact that our
assembly forms the backbone of culture and society. So, let’s keep coming. It takes
work, creativity, tenacity, and vision to build a Mystical Body. Others think they are not
holy. But it takes a while to be holy. Holiness is a process.

So, how do we respond to the critics above? Friends, go up higher. (Lk.
14:10), not stay away! Come to Mass every Sunday, read the scripture ahead of time,
help at Mass, be a lector, usher, or Eucharistic Minister. Deepen your preparation.
Read the Bible, go to confession, recite the Anima Christi Prayer, and receive the Holy
Eucharist.

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