Eucharist

This is a hard thing to believe. That day he lost many followers
Jn 6:60-69


Did he lose you?

We spoke in the past of the relationship between Faith and Love and Trust. There are many matters of faith that are difficult, but we believe them out of Love, and trust in the one who revealed them to us. We trust him. The Trinity, forgiveness of sin, the sanctity of all life, the Eucharist, the entire Creed; all are mysteries which are too deep for us to understand, yet we accept them on faith.

Or do you?

One of Jesus’ closest followers couldn’t accept deep mysteries on faith. Thomas said – he had to see. And later both he and even 500 more saw, and the Resurrection wasn’t a matter of faith for them, they saw. Is that how it is with you; must you see; must you understand (with your pea brain) before you really believe?

Look at your family member sitting next to you. You trust them; you know they love you. Now look at someone across the aisle or across the street. Why don’t you trust them? They look similar to your family member. You know they are different, though, by how your family member has acted in the past, and how they have said and shown they loved you. Despite the fact that people may look similar, you know they are different, the exterior looks don’t tell the whole story. Can’t you look and feel the same way about that bread and wine?

He said: “This is my body”. He said he loved you. By the visibility of his Resurrection, he proved that he was God. What further must you see or understand to believe him?

There are books that tell stories of Eucharistic miracles. Very often they occurred when people expressed their disbelief in the Presence there. To believe, do you demand miracles – to make God your servant and performer before you’ll believe?

I guess I understand how hard it may be for you to accept miracles. People have challenged them or demanded them ever since Christ performed the first one, down to a challenge to him for one final one: “Come down from that cross, and we’ll believe.”

I once traveled to a place where many miracles were said to be happening. I prayed there that I might NOT see any miracle; I wanted to believe without seeing. Nothing happened there, but I have had many miracles since in my life. One was so startling that a friend asked that reporters be called and tests run to prove scientifically that a miracle had occurred. “Scientifically prove a miracle”, it’s funny to even write the words. Miracles happen and are believed in one’s heart, based on faith and trust and love.

God proved his love for me, so I can have faith in his words and his miracles. Do you need more proof?