The Eucharist at the Heart of Relationship: Reflections on the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dearly beloved,

The First reading for this weekend narrates a dramatic victory won by the Israelites against the Amalekites. Moses positioned himself on a hill, a posture of prayer and held up the staff of God, a symbol of his authority. As the reading narrates, Israel had the better of the fight for as long as Moses’ hand was held up. And to ensure this was the case, they stationed two younger men, Aaron and Hur on both sides to support Moses’ hand. While we do not have a record of whatever else, if any, Moses was doing as he stood on that hill, it might not be an overstatement to suggest he was praying, as it would seem contentious to ascribe Israel’s victory to the simple gesture of holding up a staff. Our responsorial psalm offers us the interpretive key. Israel’s victory did not just come from Moses’ hand or from the staff; Israel was helped by the Lord who made heaven and earth who both the staff and hand are directed to. God gave victory to this aggregate of people whom he had chosen as his own. It was not on account of anything they had done, but because God wanted a relationship with them.

Each day and every week we gather as a community for the Eucharist, yet we can never overemphasize the importance of personal prayer. It is at the heart of our relationship with the Lord. And this is foundational to who we are as disciples of Jesus. This relationship, which comes from our loving communion with the Lord in prayer, is nourished by our participation in the Eucharist, and deepened by Eucharistic adoration. Jesus taught us the importance of personal prayer by his example. He would wake up early and spend some time in prayer before the day began. All of his preaching and miracles flowed from this communion with the Father. He therefore calls us to follow his example by spending some time in prayerful communion with him. I have found that spending time before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament has been a huge source of spiritual comfort for me. Many saints have also shared their experiences of how much sweetness and comfort they derived from this practice. There have been times when I did not have the right words; in fact, no words are adequate. Only silence suffices in the face of the mystery of the Eucharist. Jesus wants us to be with him.

Preoccupation with having the right words should not prevent us from seeking this communion. I have experienced consolation and peace from troubling situations, especially when I have come to my wits end with no resolution in view. I have received inspiration, guidance and direction just from sitting in silence before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

As the Church in the United States is already in the first year of a 3-year Eucharistic Campaign, I want to propose Eucharistic adoration to you, especially those who have not explored this devotion of the Church. Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, writes in his Sacrament of Love (Sacramentum Caritatis, no. 66), quoting St. Augustine, “No one eats that flesh without first adoring it; we should sin were we not to adore it.” Eucharistic adoration flows from and perpetuates the Eucharistic celebration. If we truly love Jesus we would spend more than just one hour a week with him. Love grows more by fellowship and communion. Take some time this week to do a holy hour. Jesus deserves and desires it.

May Jesus bless you, and may Our Lady protect you!