Celebrate in receiving the Eucharist once again

Have you given something up for Lent? You remember how awesome it was to indulge in that once Easter arrived. Maybe it was M & M’s. Maybe it was ice cream. I remember one Easter taking my father to the hospital for the emergency removal of his gallbladder. He had given up chocolate for Lent and ate a rather large, solid chocolate bunny on Easter morning.
We had been without the Eucharist for almost two months. On Tuesday, May 12 the public celebration of Mass resumed. We had been fasting. Now it is time to feast, and the good news is that we cannot overindulge in this. There is no such thing as too much Jesus or too much grace. Go to Mass daily! Enjoy and do not be afraid of eating too much. Do be mindful that COVID-19 is still active and dangerous. We need to use common sense to not unwittingly spread the virus.
When we receive the Eucharist it operates in us unlike any other food. Most food is processed in our bodies and is turned into us. The food becomes nourishment for our cells and thus becomes incorporated into us. The Eucharist is food, but in the opposite way. When we eat the Eucharist we do not make it into us. Rather Christ makes us into a part of Him. We become in communion with Jesus. We have been incorporated into the Body of Christ at our baptism, and in the Eucharist we renew that communion with His body.
Let us continue to pray for one another during this pandemic. May God keep us safe from every physical and moral evil. May God use this time to move our hearts and minds toward Him.
— Pat Arensberg is the Director of the Office for Evangelization and Family Life. Email him at [email protected]
For more information concerning the events of this office, visit us at mobilefaithformation.org