DIOCESAN NEWS
01/20/12
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Heaven, earth connect with Communion
Growing up Catholic, I was fortunate to have been taught by the Sisters of Mercy about the amazing gift we have in the Eucharist. I remember clearly the day of my First Communion: white dress, gloves, veil; standing in line to process in, kneeling at the communion rail, and receiving our Lord for the first time. As a child, I received this gift with love for my Lord, and my understanding was that of a child.
I am much older now and I strive to deepen my knowledge and understanding. This I know: God is so wonderfully generous in giving us his Son, Jesus. He is the source and summit of our life. Jesus did not leave us alone; he gave us his Body and Blood, a foretaste of the heavenly banquet.
In my recent past I was going through a particularly troublesome time and I relied on Jesus and his promise. Though steeped in sin, I still made it a practice to continue to visit him in adoration, clinging to his presence.
It was there in quiet moments of my worship of our Lord who is present body, blood, soul and divinity that we met face to face: I gazed at him, adored him, loved him and let him love me, though I felt most unlovable. It was in those moments, my deepest darkest hours that he saved me, gave me grace, put my soul at peace.
And now, at Mass, each time I process to the altar, I prepare my hands and my heart and soul to receive our Lord, I remember his tremendous gift, his gentle lavish love for me and give thanks. The blessing of all blessings is to receive his body, for me to be transformed. This is the only food that we become it, instead of it becoming us. It is the only food that satisfies our true hunger and thirst.
At Mass, at adoration, I come, bowed down at his feet: as one of the shepherds paying homage, as the leper, as Mary Magdalene and he receives me, with tender love.
God is everywhere, the Holy Spirit dwells within us and Jesus is on the altar waiting for us to spend time with him. It is in those moments we all have access to the throne room. It is a place to prepare for our heavenly experience, where heaven and earth connect. O come, let us adore!
Eileen Keller
St. Joseph, Gluckstadt
(NOTE: Eucharist is the “source and summit” of our lives. During this Year of the Eucharist, the Diocese of Jackson is making an effort to share your experiences of the Eucharist. Each edition of Mississippi Catholic will publish your thoughts and experiences about receiving the Eucharist. Tell us in 250 words, what the Eucharist has meant to you at various times of your life . . . in crisis, in joy, as thanksgiving and as a daily or weekly support for you. Include a head shot. Mail your reflection to: Department of Evangelization, P.O. Box 2248, Jackson, MS 39225-2248 or email mary.woodward@jacksondiocese.org.)
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