THE EUCHARIST: LIVING IN CHRIST’S PRESENCE AND NOT HIS ABSENCE

Although Jesus declares that the bread he gives is his real flesh and the wine his real blood, not all of his listeners accepted it. This has not changed even today. The sad truth is that not everyone will believe in the Eucharist. This is a fact. Faith is a free gift from God; and it is manifest only in those who respond to it generously. Unless one receives the Good News of Jesus Christ with an open heart, it would be difficult to make sense of a piece of bread becoming the body and wine becoming the blood of Jesus once the words of consecration are said over them by a validly ordained priest. But we have been privileged to have faith. My prayer is that through our own faith and devotion, many others might come to a deeper awareness of this reality and be open to the infusion of God’s gift of faith into their souls. 

During this past week the church celebrated the Feast of the Transfiguration. In Mark’s telling of what happened on the mount of transfiguration, Peter replies to Jesus, “It is good that we are here.” It is these same words that captivated the heart of our parishioner, Jerry Espiritu, during the just concluded National Eucharistic Congress. He writes: 
On the opening day of the National Eucharistic Congress, what struck me was the message, “It is good to be here.” I really felt peace, inspired, wanted to shout out to the Lord and praise him, emotional, teary-eyed to see other pilgrims. Their love for the Lord, young/old, disabled, parents with kids in the stroller, adults pushing their parents in the wheelchair, near/far pilgrims from Hawaii, California etc that we met. It was good to be there even for a moment, but I have to go back to reality. The reality of the busyness of my life, work, dealing with some difficult people. Reflecting more on it, I think that is how I should approach the Holy Eucharist, His Presence, that “it is good to be here” (Mass) even for a moment so it encouraged me to receive HIM daily if I truly believe in HIS TRUE presence which goes to remind me that even in my local church of St. Therese, Little Flower, we all have the opportunity to receive his True Presence as often as we can, to feel what I felt when I was in Indy. The challenge is when I receive and encounter Christ in the Holy Communion, am I willing to have HIM transform me little by little? For in reality those who truly encounter Christ are transformed. 
We are tabernacles when we receive Christ in the Holy Eucharist. We should not keep HIM to ourselves but share HIM with others. I know and believe God has greater plans for me, but am I listening to his promptings to invite other people, to be joyful and with zeal, talking about him to others when opportunity presents itself? I also learned the message that we are sent (Ite missa est). We are to leave and go out to proclaim the Gospel. One speaker mentioned that missa (translated somehow as missile) that we should go and explode when we land, bringing Christ to others in his fullness. In my reflection I wonder when I land whether I am bringing Christ out to others or is it anger, pride, rumor mongering, talking bad about others that I exhibit. 
In John 6 when Christ asked his disciples if they were going to leave like others because they did not believe he would give them his body to eat and his blood to drink, I wonder why many people choose Christ’s absence and not his presence. I find it frustrating when people don’t listen. But I was reminded that we are called to sow seeds and not worry about the outcome. The Lord will take care of the rest. I desire and pray for grace to want him more, and to live in HIS PRESENCE and not his absence. 
May Jesus bless you, and may Our Lady protect you!