For many . . . conduct themselves as enemies of the cross
of Christ. Their end is
destruction. Their God is their stomach;
their glory is in their 'shame.' But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is
from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3: 18
“In the Holy Eucharist, Jesus is present to every
individual, not only as Lord, but also as friend and companion on the journey,
with its joys and with its difficulties….Through Eucharist, the community of
believers becomes the Body of Christ, the real presence of God’s saving
love….the Risen Jesus in this world. The Eucharist is a source of strength,
nourishment, healing, and growth.”
In the love of Jesus,
Fr. Lenny Zamborsky
May 22, 2005
For reflection:
Think about a time when...
- Feeling weak, you have been strengthened by the Eucharist.
- Experiencing spiritual hunger, the Eucharist has nurtured you.
- In pain or distress, the Eucharist has helped heal you
- At a time your faith had hit a plateau, the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist helped you grow to a new level of faith
My mother died on December 20, 1997 and was buried on December 24. The preceding 10 years had been very difficult -- a staph infection had invaded her heart and blood stream and left her disabled in many ways.
ReplyDeleteFriends and family offering condolences assumed it was difficult for us to bury her in the Christmas season, but actually it was very comforting to spend the mornings of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Mass at St. Louis Church, saying goodbye to my mother in the presence of people we loved and being nourished by the Eucharist. I was consoled, nourished, and strengthened at these beautiful liturgies celebrated by Fr. Lenny.
Fr.Lenny's bulletin exerpt is encouraging me to find a church where I feel comfortable, so that I can receive the Eacharist to strengthen, nourish, heal, and help me to grow so that I may feel the presence of God in my life. Fr. Lenny has always been the one to administer The Eucharist in my life. It is up to me to find The Eucharist in my life again.
ReplyDeleteI can recall many beautiful experiences of Eucharist, on special occasions and with people who are important in my life. Even without those heartfelt experiences of Eucharist, I believe strongly that Jesus is present in the Eucharist to strengthen, nourish, and heal...and that daily Eucharist does, as spiritual writer, Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, comments,"help me hold life together." When Eucharist seems "routine" I remind myself that "Eucharist" means "Thanksgivng" and that participation in Mass is the least I can do to express my gratitude for God's abundant blessings.
ReplyDelete