Honoring the Eucharist: The Essence of Our Catholic Faith

+JMJ+ There have been many commentaries and videos made regarding the sacrilegious and offensive Olympic opening ceremonies. I’m not going to specifically comment on it because everything that needs to be said has been said.

What I do want to comment on is the beauty of our Catholic faith and the profound gift of the Eucharist. One positive outcome of the righteous anger and uproar over the disrespect shown for the Eucharist (not just at the Olympics) is the unity among Catholics—unity because we truly believe in the True Presence of Christ. He is truly present body, blood, soul, and divinity. This belief is what binds us together, transcending our differences and drawing us to Mass and the sacraments.

We have Jesus Himself.

The Eucharist is more than a symbol; it is the very essence of our faith. This is what I remain Catholic for. This is what I fight for. The Eucharist deserves our utmost respect. We need to give it as Catholics.

In a world where we often find ourselves divided, the Eucharist is a source of faith, hope, love, encouragement, and strength that only comes through Christ. It calls us to focus on what truly matters: Jesus Christ, present among us. This shared belief in the Real Presence should inspire us to live out our faith with conviction and love. It should inspire us to follow God, not mankind. Truly living out our belief in the Eucharist should inspire us to be courageous soldiers of Jesus Christ. Jesus gave us His ALL. What do we give Him? Far too often, we give our silence, wimpiness, and “wokeness.”

Imagine what we could achieve if we let the Eucharist truly transform us! Imagine if we approached every Mass, every moment of adoration, with the reverence and awe it deserves. Imagine if all Catholics regularly utilized the sacrament of Confession and the Eucharist. Imagine if we let the reality of Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist influence our every thought, word, and action. Things would be vastly different. Most importantly, imagine how pleased Our Lord would be!

The Eucharist has the power to lead us to greater holiness and sainthood, heal wounds, and bring us closer together as a Church. It reminds us that we are all part of the Body of Christ. We are called to be His hands and feet in the world, to live out His teachings with courage and compassion.

We are all called to holiness. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI, “The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.” Living a life of holiness is not going to be easy. The world is going to tug at us. We might feel torn between what is right, true, and holy versus the lies the devil tries to sell us. Resist the lies. Follow the Ten Commandments. Take them seriously. Receive the sacraments faithfully and in the state of grace. The offenses committed against our precious Lord and Savior should serve as a wake-up call to those of us who have become lukewarm in our faith.

Let us come together, not just in moments of outrage or crisis, but in our everyday lives. Let us allow the Eucharist to shape us, inspire us, and lead us to a deeper, more authentic faith.

This is our call as Catholics: to honor the Eucharist, to live in unity, and to witness to the world the transformative power of Christ’s love. Let us rise to this challenge, united in our belief in the Real Presence, and committed to living out our faith with integrity and devotion.

On a personal note, I recently underwent surgery to correct a deviated septum and another minor issue. This was due to an incident with my heart a few years ago that caused my ICD to fire. I passed out and smashed my face against the floor, causing damage. Since then, I’ve had health issues with my sinuses, ears, and respiratory system. The recovery from this surgery has been tougher than expected, and I'm feeling really terrible.

On Sunday, a dear family friend from church came to bring me Holy Communion. I cried. Not because of the pain or anxiety I’m feeling, but out of joy and the peace Jesus brought in that little white host. There is no greater gift. I cried because I know how unworthy I am to receive Him and yet He comes to me anyway. Because He loves me that much. I couldn’t smile on the outside because it hurt too much, but believe me when I say that my soul was smiling, aflame with the love and joy only Christ can bring.

And how easily and foolishly we throw that away! We rush through Mass and then, throughout the week, how quickly we forget to live out our faith, to allow that light to shine in our families, among friends, with strangers, in our churches, at work, in school, in politics, and in how we treat others. Our Catholic faith should be more than a label. We need to live it regardless of what the world says about us or does to us.

Let this be a call to action for all of us. To remember the immense love and grace that Jesus offers us in the Eucharist. To let that love transform our lives, our relationships, and our communities. To live in a way that reflects the reality of Christ’s presence within us. Together, let us honor the Eucharist and be united in our faith, drawing strength, love, and hope from the gift of Jesus Himself.

Jesus is Lord! Alleluia!

“Receiving the Eucharist means entering into a profound communion with Jesus. ‘Abide in me, and I in you’ (Jn 15:4). This relationship of profound and mutual ‘abiding’ enables us to have a certain foretaste of heaven on earth. Is this not the greatest of human yearnings? Is this not what God had in mind when he brought about in history his plan of salvation? God has placed in human hearts a ‘hunger’ for his word (cf. Am 8:11), a hunger which will be satisfied only by full union with him. Eucharistic communion was given so that we might be ‘sated’ with God here on earth, in expectation of our complete fulfillment in heaven.”

Pope St. John Paul II, Mane Nobiscum Domine, Oct. 7, 2004

Divine Praises

"Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man. Blessed be the Name of Jesus. Blessed be His most Sacred Heart. Blessed be His most Precious Blood. Blessed be Jesus in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy. Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception. Blessed be her glorious Assumption. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse. Blessed be God in His angels and in His saints.”