Jesus, I entrust it to you

You are looking for me . . . because you ate the loaves

The people don’t seem to be learning their lesson, do they?   You would think that after witnessing the miracle of the loaves and fishes—and after joining in the miracle by eating—they would want to know more about Jesus and his relationship to God.   Yet it seems that they are interested only in bread that can fill their stomachs.   How can they be so blind?

Apparently spiritual blindness isn’t limited to first-century Palestine.   Think about how easy it can be for our own spiritual vision to become dull.   Every Sunday we receive Jesus in the Eucharist.   With our physical eyes, we see the Host and the chalice.   Yet the heart of Jesus—a heart that is overflowing with divine love—can remain elusive.   We believe that it is Jesus we are receiving, but we have become so used to Communion that our expectations have declined.   And if we don’t expect something to happen during that time, we might very well return to our pews no different.

So how can you practice “seeing” Jesus in the Eucharist more clearly?   One way is to try to place all your focus on him throughout the liturgy.   Before Mass begins, take a few moments to offer him the activities of your day or week.   Maybe that includes taking care of your children or completing a project at work.   Offer him your prayer intentions as well—for a loved one who is sick or for God’s wisdom for a challenging situation.   Give these concerns to the Lord at the beginning of Mass, and try to leave them with him so that you can pay closer attention to the readings and the prayers.

Then, as you approach the altar, imagine Jesus standing before you holding all of the cares and concerns you have given him.   Picture him looking at each of them with tender love and compassion.   Then, as you receive him, let him give these cares and concerns back to you.   Along with the bread and wine, they too have been transformed.   They may look the same, but Christ is now in them.   He is the living God, and he is at work, helping you face all your needs, desires, doubts, and fears.

Word Among Us