Eucharist thoughts

[cappie]

Every Eucharist is a participation in the Birth, Death, and Resurrection of Christ in ONE SACRED MOMENT IN TIME. It is the moment when we, who live in 2015, stand both in the manger and at the foot of the cross. Not symbolically, but in reality, physically. We are in heaven, participants in an eternal drama that we could not be present for because of linear time.

But the work of Christ, though it took place in linear time and in space, was an action of such cosmic importance that it ripples beyond space-time into Eternity. It is an eternal act, happening at every second of everyday because it has no seconds or days or location. It is more than an echo of an event--it is the event itself, a Sacred Heart beat, the DNA of the Universe, unfolding and replicating, creating life to form, grow, and become reborn.

When I think on this--when it occurs to me as I hold that beautiful, sacred, adorable person in my hands--I think, "Who am I, that I've been called to do this for the world? To make present an Eternal action, a moment outside of time, to the people of this world so that they can internalize that event, make it their own, and become a new creation every day? I'm not worthy of this honor. I shouldn't even approach Christ, the selfish little brat that I can be with God."

But the prayer we say before we received Christ, is so poignant a statement that it calms those fears:
Priest to the People: 
"Behold the Lamb of God. Behold Him Who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the Supper of the Lamb."
Priest and People:
"LORD, I AM NOT WORTHY THAT YOU SHOULD ENTER UNDER MY ROOF, BUT ONLY SAY THE WORD AND MY SOUL SHALL BE HEALED."

We aren't worthy. But God says we are. He makes us worthy through his love. We continue to try to become worthy, to become holy, and our efforts--our hopes and intentions to become holy and worthy and upright and loving and patient and kind and generous--are enough for God to enter into our lives, break into the locked prisons of our heart--and release us. Heal us. Make us Whole.

As a very wise friend once said to me, "God does not expect us to be holy. But he does expect us to be whole."
Only He can make us so.

[Archaeology cat]

Thank you, Father. I needed to read that

[DominicanHeart]

I had been meditating on how every time the Mass is celebrated its Christmas, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter all at once! Ugh it's so great!!! I just love being Catholic!

[Luigi]

This article reiterates a number of the same ideas that Cappie posted, but it adds a few Do's and Don'ts, especially for those who may not have received Communion in a while. It's a little bit of Communion Etiquette.

http://aleteia.org/blogs/deacon-greg-kandra/10-things-to-remember-when-receiving-communion/?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook