Corpus Christi Reflection

In 1978, the late St. John Paul II urged all parishes throughout the world to institute Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration.  Five years later, in his encyclical, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, he reminded all Catholics that the Eucharist is the greatest gift Jesus left His Church.

As Catholics, we believe that JESUS is really, truly and substantially present in the Eucharist – just as when He walked on this earth.  He is present in our tabernacles. He is present in our Adoration Chapels and He is present in the Sacred Host when it is placed on our tongues.

There could be no more appropriate time than today to reflect on the significance of the Eucharist and our response to this great Gift.

Have you ever loved someone so much that you could hardly wait to hear from them, to speak with them and to see them – only to have that person not love you in return?  How often have you looked forward to a visit from a close friend or family member only to have that person spend little or no time talking to you?  I dare say all of us sometime in our lifetimes have had such experiences.  How hurt we felt when we were ignored and not loved in return.

Imagine How God – WHO IS LOVE – WHO LOVES US MORE THAN WORDS CAN DESCRIBE – feels when we fail to demonstrate our love for Him?  He waits here hour after hour, day after day, 168 hours a week, just to hear our voices and to see our faces.

Come.  Visit Him.  Speak to Him!  He especially wants us to spend time in His Presence when we are hurting, dealing with pain and suffering, fear and anxiety.

Too often we try to deal with these problems alone.  We forget that Jesus told us:

   COME AND BRING YOUR BURDENS TO ME AND I WILL REFRESH YOU

So this Corpus Christi weekend, would you prayerfully consider doing the following: Resolve to spend more time before Mass and after receiving Communion talking to Jesus; make a visit before the Blessed Sacrament sometime between now and next Sunday; and ask Jesus to increase your belief and reverence in and for His Real Presence, and consider committing to an hour of Adoration each week.

Author: mseagrif

My vocation as a Lay Dominican created an insatiable desire to learn, study, live and share my Faith. For more than ten years I led a Prison Ministry program and have spent more than a decade promoting Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. Now retired, I aspire to promote zeal for the salvation of souls, awe and amazement for the Holy Eucharist and Eucharistic Adoration, and fidelity to the Truths of our Catholic Faith. View all posts by mseagrif