DAILY HOMILIES #Eucharist

When we are only concerned about money, the things of God do not make sense to us. Jesus Christ met these two disciples on the way but they failed to recognize Him because their hearts were clouded by material pursuits. Jesus took his time to explain the Scriptures to them, and their hearts burned within them.

By giving thanks, Jesus made seven loaves and a few small fish multiply to feed four thousand. Thanksgiving multiplies things. Eckhart Tolle once said: “If the only prayer you ever said is ‘Thank You, it will be enough.”

One question I often ask myself is: “After walking away from Jesus, did the crowd eventually find the bread they were looking for?” If you consider the commandments of God as too difficult to keep or as a hindrance to your happiness, will you find happiness by worshipping the devil?

The crowd wanted bread but Jesus was offering the Holy Eucharist. Imagine the huge difference in value. Elijah wanted food and water but God removed his hunger and tiredness for a whole forty days. Imagine the huge difference. Flee from bitterness, trust God! He surely has something better ahead of you.

With constant Holy Communion, you just cannot miss heaven. This is why Jesus gave it to us in the first place. Jesus knows that we are humans, flesh and blood, weak creatures. He knows that left to our own strength and willpower, we cannot resist sin. He knows we would need supernatural strength all the time so Jesus decided to give us Himself in Holy Communion. Without communion, you have no life in you.

Dear friends, no matter the reason why we may want to turn our backs on God, the truth is that THERE IS JUST NO ALTERNATIVE. St. Augustine said: “You have made us for yourself O God and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

If Stephen had set out to work for the food which perishes, he would have backed out when he saw the threat to his life, he would have denied Jesus or run away but he chose to fix his gaze instead in heaven.

Jesus did not come into this world to make us materially rich or politically powerful possessing earthly kingdoms, etc. No. Jesus came to give us something far more important: His Body and Blood - His physical presence in the Holy Eucharist.