REFLECTIONS ON THE EUCHARIST

In the time of our parents and grandparents, Sunday was considered
special. It was that day of the week when people went to church to
connect with God. And for Catholics, the heart of this connection was
the Eucharist.

But today it's the opposite. The spirit of our age is one of
'adversarial mysticism', which challenges this traditional idea of
Sunday being special. It's like a great reversal has occurred. This
spirit is articulated whenever people say, "Who needs church... I get my
spiritual experience from yoga, or music, or hiking in nature..."

This mentality, under the pretence of expanding God, actually renders
God banal; if everything is sacred, nothing is sacred. And it ultimately
keeps people from seeing church as offering a uniquely sacred
experience.

I don't want to argue with the idea that we can't connect with God
outside of our four church walls. Obviously we can. But what I want to
say is that there's more. And that MORE is why I am a practicing
Catholic.

Let me explain by using the analogy of a marriage. Everyday of your
marriage should be special, and never be taken for granted. However,
your anniversary BETTER be that one day of the year that STANDS OUT.
It's that day when you deeply celebrate and articulate your mutual love
and thankfulness.

And this marriage metaphor is also an appropriate metaphor for faith. At
the heart of the Christian faith is a relationship with the Risen Jesus.
And how is any relationship sustained and strengthened? By spending time
together. Enjoying each other. Confiding our weaknesses. Celebrating our
love.

JP2s Encyclical on the Eucharist, "Ecclesia de Eucharistia", talks about
this intimacy and mutuality when he writes; "When the faithful approach
the sacred banquet, not only do they receive Christ, but they in turn
are received by him."

There is a relationship in the Eucharist then that is at the heart of
our faith. God may be with us throughout the week, but think of the
Eucharist as that 'one on one' time with our Risen Lord. God is not just
lurking somewhere in the background music of our lives, but in the
Eucharist we capture a real sense of 'quality time' with God, when
everything else just falls to the side.

And this refreshes our perspective of what really matters. It engenders
our gratitude and renews our commitment of faith.

When Pope Benedict was Cardinal Ratzinger he wrote a book called "A God Who Is Near" where he talked about this. He writes, "God gives himself to us so that we, in turn, can give ourselves. The initiative in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ comes from God. In the beginning, it was he himself who lowered himself."

God is reaching out to us in the sacrifice of the Eucharist. And if we
can fully grasp this mystery, we have no choice but to give our lives to
Him in gratitude. That is the 'thanksgiving' WE offer in the Eucharistic
relationship.

As nice as it is to notice God's handiwork in nature, or in our
favourite music, it is because of the gift of the Eucharist that the
ordinary becomes truly holy.