The sacrament of charity, the Holy Eucharist is the gift that Jesus Christ makes of himself, thus revealing to us God’s infinite love for every man and woman. – Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis, 1
I want to issue a challenge in this reflection. I bet you $10 that if you’re reading this you already believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Either that, or you’re at least a little curious about the Catholic faith. Am I right? (Come find me for your $10 if I’m wrong- lol!) What are we who believe in the Blessed Sacrament, this Sacrament of Love, called to during this “mini season” of the liturgical year when we focus on the Bread of Life discourse (John 6:22-71)? I believe we’re called to be reminded of God’s love for us and then to share that love with others, especially our curious friends–you know who you are!
First, we who believe need to be reminded that God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to us to heal the incurable wound of original sin (see John 3:16). We need to hear “I love you” from our loved ones constantly. We need to tell them we love them. It is an innate human need to love and be loved. Likewise, we need to be reminded that God loves us. We need this special time in our liturgy to focus fully on the total gift that Jesus offered for us on the cross and presents again at every Holy Mass: His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.
“The Gospel of God’s love…finds its highest expression in the Eucharist.
St. Pope John Paul II
In the Mass and in Eucharistic Adoration we meet the merciful love of God
that passes through the Heart of Jesus Christ.”
Now to the challenge: God calls we who weekly and even daily receive this Sacrament of Love to be His witnesses to His gift by living Eucharistic lives. The National Eucharistic Congress was held this summer, and one of the initiatives they put forth was to “Walk With One.” My challenge to you is to go to this website and then pray about how to offer spiritual companionship to just one other person who might be curious about the Catholic faith: eucharisticrevival.org/walk-with-one. There are resources on this site to help guide you through the process. Keep this truth in mind, God loves you and this other person dearly and wants you to share His love with him or her.
Jesus, thank you for giving Yourself to us in the Eucharist. Help me to receive Your love deeply in my heart and then share it with one person You wish to draw closer to Yourself.
“The love that we celebrate in the sacrament is not something we can keep to ourselves. By its very nature it demands to be shared with all. What the world needs is God’s love; it needs to encounter Christ and to believe in him…Truly, nothing is more beautiful than to know Christ and to make him known to others.”
(Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis, 84)