2024/08/18 SCRIPTURE REFLECTION

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

- Elise Giles, Manager of Growth & Transformation

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus makes a revolutionary declaration: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh" (Jn 6:51).

I received my First Communion on a Saturday afternoon with my second-grade class. I was so excited to finally be included in this part of the Mass, I begged my parents to take me to church again on Sunday (yes, I re-wore my fancy dress). Did I fully comprehend transubstantiation? No, certainly not. I was just glad no one asked me to spell it. But I knew it was a privilege to participate in this sacrament and I was grateful to be considered worthy.

I wish I could say I maintained the child-like eagerness I had for my First Communion every Mass thereafter and for all the years since. But that’s not exactly the case. I have always had a deep respect and reverence toward the Eucharist, but I was not viewing it as the life-giving bread that Jesus cements it to be in John chapter 6. I did not see Communion as something very personal, rather one of many elements of my Catholic faith.

When I had some time off between my previous job and my start date at Saint Clement, I made a commitment to go to Mass every day. Not for any specific reason other than I really did not have any excuse not to since my days were completely free. I admit, rather shamefully, I spent the first few mornings regretting this pact I had made. However, after about a week, I started to wake up with eagerness. I would go to sleep excited about waking up to go to Mass in the morning. Upon reflection, I know this to be the innate craving we all share for divine nourishment found only in the “true food” and “true drink” (Jn 6:55) of Holy Communion.

When Jesus says, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him” (Jn 6:56) it isn’t just a one-sided claim. He desires to remain in us just as we should desire to remain in Him. He wants to be a part of our imperfect, broken, messy human lives. He doesn’t need to – but He wants to. So, when we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, we are letting him in. We are giving Him permission to transform us with His very self.

I love when we say: “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” It is so honest and true. The good news is that the word has been said! Jesus wants to heal our souls with His sacrificial and unconditional love.

One morning I was overcome with emotion during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. I thought to myself, “If everyone really understood what was going on here then every pew would be filled! We wouldn’t go to work; we would all just sit here and be with Jesus!” What a brilliant idea from someone with a completely free calendar and no one to take care of except myself.

Let’s be real, life gets busy. I kept up my daily Mass pact for a little over a month. I am so grateful for the spiritual renewal this month brought me. Mass energizes me and nourishes me in a way that I had not opened myself up to before, and I can only attribute this to God’s grace. If you’re craving a deeper relationship with our Eucharistic Lord, then I would encourage you to add a weekday Mass into your routine. He is eager to meet you there.

For anyone who is wrestling with the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist or how it is relevant in your life today, I completely empathize with you. Don’t let your doubts drive you away from a relationship with Him or the Church. I have found being honest with God and then creating space to let Him work within my heart is the best way forward.

Let us pray for a greater understanding of the mystery of the Eucharist, that we might always approach this sacrament with faith, devotion, and eagerness, allowing it to transform our lives and strengthen our unity with Christ and one another.