In this weekend’s Gospel, we hear the great story of the Road to Emmaus. The two disciples encounter Jesus on the road, who becomes their traveling companion, who speaks to them and explains the Scriptures to them, who becomes known to them in the breaking of the bread. In many respects, it is a parallel to what we do every time we come to the Church to celebrate the Eucharist together, where we encounter God, listen to him as he reveals himself in the Scriptures and makes his presence available to us directly in the Holy Communion we share.
Over the course of the next 3 years until 2025, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is focusing on a Eucharistic Revival in our country. Bishop Andrew Cozzens, appointed Chairman of the Board of the National Eucharistic Congress, affirms the timing of the Revival: “We are really aware in these times that we live that the Church needs to become more missionary. The culture itself doesn’t support what we do anymore as Catholics,” Cozzens notes. “All Catholics are invited into a renewed encounter with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, especially those Catholics who don’t fully understand the power of the Eucharist.” As people are seeking deeper connection more than ever before, “this is a time not to be ashamed of the Gospel but to proclaim it from the rooftops.”
What is happening here at St. Mary’s in this regard? Of course, the participating in and experiencing the celebration of the Eucharist regularly is one of the best ways we can let the Holy Spirit into our lives and transform us, along with the bread and wine into the Body of Christ. We celebrate the Eucharist every day. This weekend, we are celebrating 1st Communions for several of our faith formation and school students. Congratulations to you – may your reception of Holy Communion be the first of many in which you encounter Jesus in a profoundly personal and intimate way! We have the Eucharistic Miracle Boards in our Church Narthex which we have borrowed from our sister parish, St. Teresa’s in Akron. Every celebration of the Eucharist is a miracle – these displays show how God has chosen to reveal his presence in special ways to people throughout the world at various points in history. If you haven’t done so already – check these out. They are very interesting and filled with great information. There are also Faith Formation classes that have been offered on the Eucharist, and as our family of parishes comes together during the Road to Renewal, there will be a Life in the Eucharist experience for us.
The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian lives as disciples. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, may our hearts be found burning within us because of Jesus’ Eucharistic presence in our own lives.
Peace
~Fr. Luke