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Last night I was watching a Virtual Theology on Tap featuring Sr. Miriam James Heidland and Fr. John Burns (who I had the pleasure of knowing during my time in Milwaukee). They gave a beautiful reflection on healing, forgiveness, and the heart of the Father who loves you, but as they were closing Fr. Johnny said something profound which I found especially timely as we work our way through John 6.
The host, Pete Burak, asked Fr. Johnny for his advice to all of us lay-folk who are hungry for the Eucharist. Among a lot of other gold nuggets, Fr. John reminded us that the Church is led by the Holy Spirit and so on this side of heaven what the Church says is what God says. So God had shown us that for this season, we don't need the Eucharist to survive because He has chosen to sustain us in a unique way what will prepare us to receive His precious Body and Blood with renewed devotion when that glorious time comes.
What struck me was when he said, "To do the will of the Father is His bread, is the bread of Jesus Christ." Father was referring to John 4:34. Jesus had just met and spoken with the woman at the well. She had run into the city to tell others about them as the disciples returned. The disciples urged him to eat and Jesus, as always, used this moment as a teaching opportunity.
"My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work."
Faithfulness to God's plan is what sustains Jesus, but it's not exactly as easy as that. So how easily we could say that that's what Jesus meant when He says "my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink." How easily it could be to say "Oh I get it Jesus, eating your 'flesh' is symbolic of doing the will of the Father." Yes, that would be convenient. But it's not the Truth.
Jesus has chosen to nourish us through His very Body and Blood in the Eucharist. Jesus is God. He desired that we would become "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). That's why we declare "O Happy Fault!" at the Easter Vigil! We are not only God's friends (John 15:15), but God's children (Romans 8:15). Because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ we now enjoy a post beyond anything Adam and Eve could have ever dreamed of! We don't simply walk with God in the garden, WE PARTICIPATE IN HIS VERY LIFE! How do we do that on earth? Through the Eucharist!
Fr. Johnny said that the Church, in her wisdom, has determined that in this season we don't need the Eucharist to survive, but God would never deprive us of the participation of His divine life (except when we are in a state of sin, where we have rejected God, not the other way around). That means that God invites us into this participation in a different way. "There is a way that God is trying to give Himself to us in the Word and in our interior lives in a manner that sustains us profoundly." God offers us every grace we need for the salvation of our souls. God loves you. We cannot receive the Eucharist physically right now, but we can continue to participate in the divine life by prayer, fasting, and charity. Learn to be present to God within you. Make a spiritual act of communion daily, even hourly.
The Eucharist is just as real as it ever was. Priests must continue to participate in the one sacrifice on Calvary for our sake, but in God's providence He has chosen to give Himself to the faithful in a different way. Receive Him.
For the full interview, click here. Fr. Johnny's bit is around minute 33.
I'd love to hear how God is working in your life! Is your spiritual life renewed? Are you facing greater questions and difficulties than you ever have? Share! Email me at a.nobis@dbqarch.org.
-Amanda Nobis, Director of Evangelization