Longing for the Eucharist



There are been pre-recorded Masses (sometimes called "canned Mass") and the streamed versions, like the one in the picture above.  These are helping to fill gaps for us in some ways. We are grateful to those who make these provisional celebrations possible. But, as someone said to me along the way "You don't get to receive the Eucharist".  Lent is over and Easter is here yet we still feel a fast of sorts.

As some have noted: We miss being at Mass in person, face-to-face and in the flesh.

As we long to gather, celebrate, receive and be the Eucharist of Christ together it may give us some moments to pause. In the loss and grief we may feel there are moments where we consider what the Eucharist means to us.

Each of us will have reflections that are particular to us.  There are also some commonly inherited understandings.  Two writers have accessible books on the Eucharist from our common inheritance.  They knead together their own reflections with the Tradition and anecdotes. What rises is a written nourishment to help feed our understanding of the bread of life and cup of eternal blessing.

Robert Barron is familiar to some from his Catholicism series.  Others, including one of our book clubs, would know of his Word on Fire resources here. He also has written on the Eucharist, drawing on continuing themes of memorial, meal and sacrifice.  It is available in print, ebook and audio download.  I returned to it recently and was glad to do so.

Ronald Rolheiser has been a helpful guide in the spiritual life for a number of years now. In his book on the Eucharist, Our One Great Act of Fidelity, he talks of themes already mentioned.  It is also available in print, ebook.


Rolheiser also speaks of waiting. 

Indeed we wait. 

For the lifting of the isolation, 
for the ability to be at Mass together, 
for the eternal banquet that we hope to enjoy with our loved ones gone before us whom we are still in communion with at Mass.

                    "...grant that we, who are nourished
                    by the Body and Blood of your Son
                    and filled with his Holy Spirit,
                    may become one body, one spirit in Christ."

                       Eucharistic Prayer III 




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