This weekend, we bring to a close our reading of selections from chapter 6 of John’s Gospel. John 6 is often called the “Bread of Life” Discourse since the chapter started with the feeding of the multitude by multiplying 5 barley loaves and 2 fish and ends with Jesus’ bold proclamation that “I am the Bread of Life”. The Eucharistic overtones and connections are clear and obvious, since this is all proclaimed when “The Jewish feast of Passover was near” (Jn 6:4). Jesus intentionally wants to tie the remembered Manna in the desert from the Passover days with the future Eucharistic gift of Self at the Last Supper.
The belief in the Real Presence dates back to the beginning. St Paul himself sternly warns the Christians in Corinth about their practices of participating it the Lord’s Supper. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself” (I Cor 11:26-29, emphasis added). A symbol could never bring down judgement, only an unworthy participation in the Suffering, Death, and Resurrection of Christ as contained in the Eucharist. Justin Martyr, who lived from 100 – 165AD would defend the Eucharist saying, “the food which is blessed by the prayer of His [Christ’s] word… is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh.” This was to defend against a purely symbolic understanding. Examples from every century since could be given.
Since you who are reading this, you probably already believe in the True Presence of the Eucharist! Sadly, we all know someone who doesn’t believe. Maybe a family member who has walked away. A well-meaning neighbor who holds a heterodox Protestant understanding. A coworker who doesn’t know Christ at all. What are we to do? As part of the Eucharistic Revival and our call to become Eucharistic Missionaries, we are called to spread the Good News of Christ – which most certainly contains the Good News of Christ’s True Presence in the Eucharist. We won’t ‘convert’ or ‘reach’ everyone. But you can – by God’s Grace – reach one!
The Walk-With-One initiative is a specific, achievable, and relevant goal for each one of us (It is not necessarily measurable or time-bound, as most SMART goals are supposed to be, since God works in His own time and we are about more than numbers when it comes to souls). Walk-With-One is a challenge from our bishops to bring the, Good News of the Gospel and the Truth of Christ’s True Presence in the Eucharist to one person in your life. There may be many in your life who need it, but what if you intentionally & practically impacted just 1 additional person? The Church would change & grow. The Gospel would be served & shared!
Walk with One – Four steps:
1. Identify someone in a spirit of humility. Pray to God to discern who God wants you to accompany. This may not be the person you most want to impact, but it is the person God wants to impact through you!
2. Intercede for that person in Communion with the Holy Spirit. Start with prayer for that one person. Not a prayer, but deep, sustained, ongoing prayers for them. You may offer the graces of your own reception of Holy Communion for that person’s heart, hardships, & hearing of the Gospel.
3. Connect with that person in Eucharistic Friendship. Before sharing the Gospel, share your gift of self, friendship, & communion. Give thanks for them where they are. This is not ‘making nice’ prior to a sale. This is getting to know, support, care for One whom you intend to be friends with for eternity. Human friendship is the training ground for divine friendship. If they know you care, they will care to know.
4. Invite this person on a path suitable to them. As your natural friendship develops and you continue to pray humbly for them, you will know what is the next best way to invite them deeper supernaturally. This may be Mass. Or it might be to Magdalene’s or a K of C function together. It might be a church picnic or Fish Fry. Especially if a person has ‘left’ the Church, even ‘soft’ engagement with the Church family may be a big step. We are not interested in quick results but eternal gains. Patiently, prayerfully, partnering with the One God has called you to accompany, will be the pathway to enriching all of our lives, theirs & ours, with their presence united to the Eucharistic Presence of our Lord.
More Info at: https://www.eucharisticrevival.org/walk-with-one
+ Nothing less than saints for the Holy Family of God. +
Holy Family, Focused on the Eucharistic Heart of Christ, Pray for us.
~ Fr Jeremy M. Gries