HELLO, JESUS!
Fr. IRENEUSZ SKUBIŚ
We have much reflection concerning the Eucharist. It can also be said, that the Eucharist is a presence of Jesus Christ in the life of a Christian man, a Catholic man. Practically, starting with the First Holy Communion, when a child is taking Lord Jesus into his heart solemnly, a man has a possibility to lead divine life consciously - life which is accompanied by the Eucharist. Indeed, without the Eucharist there is no good Christian life. It is a kind of testimony about religiousness of a believer. This testimonial is given by Jesus to everyone who takes Him, who feels prepared for taking Him. A man who decides to live against the divine commandments, for example, when he leaves her spouse and enters a new relationship, says farewell himself to a possibility of a full participation in the Eucharist, because he cannot receive the Holy Communion. Every way of life which excludes the Eucharist, in the Catholic Church is an exclusion of oneself from a full religious life. Hence, there is ascertainment that this sacrament is a testimonial of faith and Christian life.
We are having the time of a great feast of the Eucharist - a celebration of the Holiest Body and Blood of Christ, that is, Corpus Christi. It is a big event, when it concerns religious experiences in the liturgical year. We have a possibility to adore the Holiest Sacrament in our churches and chapels, but we cannot often worship Him publically out of sacral places. Eucharistic Jesus, carried in the procession of the Corpus Christi,Himself comes out towards us - He is not only waiting for us in a church. His presence in streets of our villages and towns gathers millions of believers who are following Him in the procession while singing, recognize His power, adore Him and ask for His blessing.
On this occasion of Jesus' visit, we should take up an inner reflection: what are we? What is our country? What is public life in it? How does Poland express its respect towards God and His Gospel? While there is such an enormous number of believers - the Catholics, is our country really Catholic? Can we say that these streets, today crowded with believers, are also full of grace, present in people's hearts, and also our neighbor's love, inner justice, respecting divine commandments, becoming aware of the essence of Jesus' blessings?
Do we live the spirit of the Gospel enough? This question must be asked by MPs from all political parties to themselves, who are present at processions of Corpus Christi. Are they aware of the fact that Eucharistic Jesus demands mainly from them - elected to serve others - the righteousness of heart, justice and the truth in love? What form of our Homeland will be elaborated by those who were elected by the society - because people trusted them? Eucharistic Jesus is also coming to our self-governors. He is asking mayors and councillors about the fruits of their government time, about what is the life of inhabitants of particular areas, how safe older, disabled, ill people are who find it hard to live, who might be in the margin of life and are awaiting help from relevant institutions and are simply awaiting a good human heart. Jesus is asking if a district administrator, mayor, councillor are aware of their responsibility for their social ministry towards Jesus. Jesus sees specifically our medical centres, schools, cultural and other centres, standing in front of those who are responsible for their functioning, and he is saying repeatedly: 'Whatever you did (….)', 'you did for me' (see Mt 25.40).
And Lord Jesus is coming to us with his loving heart - 'he is coming to see our homesteads, and how his children are getting on' as we sing in an old Eucharistic song. Being carried in a monstrance - as it might seem that only according to a cult - after all, he is coming in a real way, in rem, touching life and the human inside. We should get prepared for His visit inside and outside. Let's fall onto our knees, and worship and adore Him, but also let's get clung to Him - God present in the Eucharist, who never comes empty-handed. He can enrich us a lot, rebuild the sense of everything what we did in our life, we find it safe and brave to live with Him. And let's believe that thanks to Him we will be saved in eternity.
How important it is that Eucharist Jesus is with us, alive, real, loving…
(AA)
"Niedziela" 21/2013