The Renewing Power of the Eucharist
obstacles slow our steps. And in the Eucharist, the Lord makes us walk
on his road, that of service, of sharing, of giving; and if it is shared,
that little we have, that little we are becomes riches. For the power of
God — which is the power of love — comes down into our poverty to
transform it” (excerpts from May 30, 2013, Corpus Christi homily).
The Eucharist and Coming Home
On the drive home from Newport, we had to pass through the little
town where my wife and I lived when we were first married. It evoked
a number of feelings: joy in remembering those precious early years
when we were just beginning to get to know each other, sadness in
seeing how much things had changed over the years, regret over
decisions we had made that closed some doors in order to open
others, and determination to fill the time before us with greater
purpose and joy.
At Eucharist, we are part of a family of faith where we are accepted despite
our faults, where we encourage each other to be all that we can be in Christ.
The experience made me realize that the cherished lean years had
taught me powerful truths: that I am blessed by my family; that no
matter what happens in life God is there to see us through; and that in
the end, I am left with gratitude for all I have been given.
It is overwhelming that we refer to the Lord’s Supper as Eucharist,
“thanksgiving.” In remembering the perfect act of love by Jesus Christ,
in experiencing our salvation as a Church, and in reconnecting to God’s
love story that began in eternity and continues into time without end,
we experience a joy that is so complete, so perfect, and so wonderful
that the only response possible is thanksgiving and gratitude.
In the Eucharist, we find tender meaning in our past, heavenly power
in our present, and unwavering hope in our future. Just as I need to
renew my appreciation of and my commitment to my family through
times of reflection and recommitment, so, too, must I and all of us
renew the bond we share with one another and with Christ through
the Eucharist each time we celebrate the sacrament.
My prayer is that we will forever treasure our families, our life journeys,
our Church, and our faith-filled participation in the Eucharist. And I
pray, too, that our response will always be what Eucharist is all about
— thanksgiving and gratitude.
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