I am asking that you indulge me for one more time and read as I share something that I recently heard. This past Saturday, I was able to attend a presentation by Bishop Andrzej Zglejszewski on the Eucharistic Revival. He shared many points that were engaging, but I only have space here to share the one that really struck me.
Do you realize that so many of the stories and actions of Jesus revolve around food?
I never did. But as the Bishop went on to explain examples, the one that intrigued me the most was his question, “Where was Jesus born?”
We all know that, right? In a stable in Bethlehem, of course.
The Bishop went on to ask, “And where was He placed?” Again, we know the answer: in a manger.
“And what is a manger used for?” That’s right, to feed the animals.
The infant Jesus was born in a stable and had for His cradle the very object that was used to feed and nourish the animals that attended His birth.
From the very beginning, Jesus’ life spoke of feeding others with Himself. The Bishop reminded us the animals would ‘feed’ and then go away, then they would come back, feed and go away. That continued for their lifetime. For us, this is where the Eucharist and Mass come in. We come to be fed at Mass then go out and become ‘other’ Christs.
Are we hungry enough to keep coming back to the Mass? In real life, we need to eat more than once to stay alive. What about eating at the table of the Lord?
Do I consider going to Mass and obligation? Church law says it is. I was thinking, what if we considered it an opportunity to be fed? Nourished and fed by the Word of God and the Eucharist.
In the early Church, celebrating the Eucharist was commonly understood to be a great privilege and an essential part of being a Christian. Where do you stand on this concept? I can’t answer it for you; as for me, I want to see it as an opportunity.
The next time you go to Mass stop and answer the question: why am I going? Do you consider it an obligation or an opportunity? Do I want to continue coming back to be fed?
Till next week,
Sister Theresita
