Dear Friends,

Over these past four Sundays we have spent time reflecting on the Eucharist as we explore the words of Our Lord in the 6th chapter of John’s Gospel. As we move into this final Sunday, I believe it is worthwhile to look back on the rich teaching of the Eucharist provided by Jesus in the Gospel of John in order to grow in our Eucharistic devotion as individuals and as a parish.

“Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted.” On the 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time we reflected on the miracle of Christ multiplying the loaves and the fish. This miracle highlights the fact that we are called into communion with Christ as a community of believers, just like the five thousand. As we gather to celebrate the Liturgy of the Eucharist we are united both in our belief in the true presence, just as the disciples believed that Jesus was the Messiah, and by our being fed by the Eucharist, just as the 5,000 were fed by the bread and the fish. Our time at mass on Sunday offers an opportunity to “recline” and rest in the Lord’s Presence as he provides food for our journey of Faith.

"I am the Bread of Life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst." On the 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time we reflected on Jesus revealing to the disciples who he is as the “Bread of Life.” We have come to understand that Jesus is the “new manna.” In the same way that the manna would nourish the Israelites in the desert, we are now nourished by the Eucharist. The difference being that manna would perish and so would those who ate it, but by consuming the Eucharist our hunger for Christ is sated, and we are given strength to persevere in this life even as we receive a taste of heaven in the miraculous, Living Bread we eat.

“I am the Living Bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this Bread will live forever; and the Bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world." On the 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time we reflected on the promise of the Lord’s continued Presence and the gift of eternal life. In the Eucharist we continue to encounter our Lord’s presence just as he was present in the flesh with his disciples. As such we are encouraged to spend time in his Presence during the liturgy of the mass and in a unique way during Eucharistic Adoration during which we encounter the Lord face to face in the Eucharist. We also receive his presence in consuming the “Bread of Life” which sustains us for eternal life to come.

“For my Flesh is True Food, and my Blood is True Drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him.” On the 20th Sunday of Ordinary time we reflected on the difficult mystery of the Eucharist; that Christ calls us to eat of his Flesh and drink of his Blood. While respecting the mystery of the Eucharist, we struggle to know and understand more deeply the institution of the Eucharist. We do so both through our intellect, by engaging with the ways in which Christ makes himself known and accessible in the Sacraments, and by encountering him in a real, tangible way in the Eucharist. In doing so, we grow in our faith and devotion to the Eucharistic Doctrine of the Church: that through the words of consecration and the valid celebration of the mass, the bread and wine offered on the altar are transformed into the living Body and Blood of Christ.

“Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God." As we now celebrate the 21st Sunday of Ordinary time we conclude our refection of John Chapter six as Jesus is abandoned by many of his disciples who tell him, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” The community of Christians is shattered, and there are many inside and outside of the Catholic Church who do not believe in the true presence of the Eucharist. There are also those who choose to not let their reception of the Eucharist challenge them in their life of faith; to follow Christ and strive to live a life of virtue. Instead, many receive the Living Bread of God, yet remain complacent. There are still others who treat the Eucharist as a right rather than a gift from God, and take for granted the fact that God humbles himself in the most extreme manner possible, literally placing himself in our hands. Instead, ought we not do everything that is in our power to receive the Eucharist worthily and humbly? As we dwell on this Gospel we are challenged and encouraged by the witness of the twelve apostles who stayed with Jesus. They didn’t fully understand, but they didn’t need to. They had found the one their hearts desired, and they knew Jesus to be the Messiah; that he has “the worlds of eternal life.” Therefore, we continue to reflect on the Eucharist and strive to live our lives in response to who we receive in the Eucharist; not only on Sunday, during the mass, but every moment of every day of our lives as we continue this journey of faith.

Finally, I would like to share a special prayer created by Saint Padre Pio. I encourage us to pray this prayer after we receive the Eucharist, when we return to our pew so as to remain in the mystical experience of having received the living God. The prayer is as follows:

Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You. Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often. Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, and without You I am without fervor.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light, and without You I am in darkness. Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will. Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You. Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much and always be in Your company. Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You. Stay with me, Lord, as poor as my soul is I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of Love.

Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close, and life passes, and death, judgment, and eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way, and for that, I need You. It is getting late and death approaches, I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!

Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers, I need You. Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of the bread so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart. Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You, if not by Communion, at least by grace and love.

Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more. With a from love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity. Amen.

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