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Word To Life
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Sunday Scripture Readings, Aug. 9, 2009
By Jeff Hedglen
Catholic News Service
August 9, Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Cycle B Readings:
1) 1 Kings 19:4-8
Psalm 34:2-9
2) Ephesians 4:30-5:2
Gospel: John 6:41-51
The miraculous gift of the Eucharist is for many people a hard thing to believe. Taken at face value it is a round, tasteless wafer. Our Catholic theology says it is the body, blood, soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So how does one go from seeing a wafer to experiencing Jesus?
For me, three instances stand out as helping my belief in the Eucharist grow.
The first was when I was in my 20s. I happened to sit next to the same young woman a few weeks in a row, and I noticed that while she prayed after Communion, she quietly wept.
One time I asked her if she was all right.
She said, "Yes, I just feel Jesus cleansing me of my sins."
I was in awe of her experience and deeply wanted to have such a profound connection with the Eucharist.
The second instance was through a book by Mother Teresa in which she explained that her sisters always start the day with Mass because they could not do the work they were called to without receiving Jesus in the Eucharist. This spiritual exercise was vital to their work.
Upon reading this I was humbled. Here was a group of women who could not begin the day without Jesus in the Eucharist, and at that time in my life if I missed Mass my only thought was guilt. A sense of missing the Eucharist never crossed my mind.
Last, a young woman who had graduated from our youth ministry program wrote me a letter while she was on a discernment year for her religious vocation. She signed the letter: "I'll see you in the Eucharist."
Again I was floored. I had never considered the unifying power of the sacrament in this way; we are all one in Jesus.
Difficulty understanding the miracle of the Eucharist is not new. In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus confronts people who have a hard time believing he is the bread of life.
I heard once that to surrender is to refuse yourself the luxury of asking any questions. I think this is what Jesus means when he tells the crowd to stop murmuring and believe.
QUESTIONS:
Have you had difficulty believing that the body and blood is Jesus? Who or what has helped your belief in the Eucharist to grow? Have you ever had a profound experience after going to Communion?
SCRIPTURE TO BE ILLUSTRATED:
"I am the bread of life" (John 6:48).
END
Copyright © 2009 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS Word To Life column may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service.
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