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I so longed to receive the Eucharist one Sunday that it hurt. But I had sinned and I had not gone to confession. I thought I could go and no one would know, but I would know and more importantly God would know. I began to entertain weird thoughts. If I don’t go what would people think of me?  They are all watching me, I have to go.  I then thought of Jesus looking down upon me.  I felt his presence during the mass.  Then the urge passed and all was good.  He told me to wait.

We are drawn to the Eucharist even when we sin.  It is the focus of our Church.  As well as it should be.  Many people have the above discourse with themselves while at mass.  While casually reading a book called Father Joe by Tony Hendra I found a passage that struck home, Tony finds God for the first time while visiting a priest in a monastery:

“The  “he” of his God was gentle, generous, endlessly creative, musical, artistic, and engineer and  architect of genius, a “he” who felt his joy and your joy deeply, who could be hurt just as deeply but would never give up on you , who showered you with gifts and opportunities whether you acknowledged them or not, who set you tasks but didn’t abandon you  if you failed them…Father Joe spoke of this person fondly and gratefully , with respect but more than a hint of intimacy.  Familiarity for him had bred no contempt.  Fear wasn’t even on the board.  His God might have untold trillions of other concern, but definitely had time to be Father Joe’s best friend.  ( if you like what you have read, find the book  Father Joe, the man who saved my soul, by Tony Hendra)

Unfortunately  we do not see God like this.  We approach him with fear and never completely understand his power to forgive.  Often times we sin so much that it is we who give up on God by not going to confession thinking that it is pointless.  I was very blessed today when I got an email from Jessica with the following:

YOU SAY   GOD SAYS   BIBLE VERSES
You say:  ‘It’s impossible’   God says:   All things are possible   (Luke 18:27)
You say:  ‘I’m too tired’   God says:  I will give you rest   (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say:  ‘Nobody really loves me’   God says:  I love you   (John 3:1   6 & John 3:34 )
You say:  ‘I can’t go on’   God says:  My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say:  ‘I can’t figure things out’   God says:  I will direct your steps   (Proverbs 3:5-   6)
You say:  ‘I can’t do it’   God says:  You can do all things   ( Phil ippians 4:13)
You say:  ‘I’m not able’   God says:  I am able   (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: ‘It’s not worth it’ God says:  It will be worth it   (Roman 8:28 )
You say:  ‘I can’t forgive my self’   God says:  I Forgive you   (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say:  ‘I can’t manage’   God says:  I will supply all your needs   ( Phil ippians 4:19)
You say:  ‘I’m afraid’   God says:  I have not given you a spirit of fear   (II Timothy 1:7)
You say:  ‘I’m always worried and frustrated’   God says:  Cast all your cares on ME   (I Peter 5:7)
You say:  ‘I’m not smart enough’   God says:  I give you wisdom   (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say:  ‘I feel all alone’   God says:  I will never leave you or forsake you   (Hebrews 13:5

I am not sure of the author but again it emphasizes the love that God has for us.  How can we return the love God has for us?  For starters we can pray to him and talk to him.  Then we can follow his commandments especially about loving thy neighbor and finally we can go to church and adore him by partaking in the Eucharist and seeing it for what it really is, the real presence of Jesus Christ, Jesus in our midst.  This alone should have us flocking to church.

I have a close friend who is very excited about becoming a Catholic next year.  She is so excited because she will then be able to partake in the Eucharist for the first time.  As Catholics sometimes we do not get excited like that.  She has a friend that has been Catholic but does not go to church.  The excitement has left her life.  She is locked in a cycle of sin that has her forsaking the love for her husband and God.  To unlock this cycle may require the love of a friend to help her break this cycle.  Perhaps you know someone in your life that is like this.  All it takes is a little caring and some time to talk and to listen to a person that you already care about.  How can I speak about this love and friendship and how do I know about this cycle?  I myself have gone through this in my life.  I know it just takes one conversation to bring you back into God’s Grace.  God only wants to see that you are trying and that you are making the effort. Everyone probably has gone through this.  Maybe it is your turn to reach out to someone you care about.  Each day you go to church and receive the Eucharist, you receive the Holy Spirit just like the original followers of Jesus did after they lost Jesus.  The Holy Spirit brings courage and wisdom among other graces.  Use the gifts wisely.  Help someone regain the grace of God.

This Easter was an eye opener for me.  A person took the time to help me with my life.  Actually several people did.  My family must be thanked.  These people made me open my eyes a bit more to God and all the possibilities.  They gave me hope by just taking the time to say that they cared.  Sometimes that is all people need, just a tiny word of encouragement to keep them going.  In such hard times that we face many of us need to know that our friends and family support us along with God.

Catholic America Today

Catholicamericatoday.net

Vern Hee

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