Jesus is Here!

This week I was fortunate enough to participate in the Eucharistic Pilgrimage.
All of this is leading up to the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis later this month.
With the Eucharist on my mind, I wrote these short reflections on the Seven Sorrows of Mary.

SEVEN SORROWS OF MARY

ONE: Consider the prophecy of Simeon.

Simeon was in the temple awaiting the consolation of Israel. He found that consolation when he saw Mary holding Jesus. Then he said Jesus would be a sign of contradiction.

When we look at Jesus in the monstrance, we behold a sign of contradiction. The God who created the universe wants to spend time with us under the appearance of a piece of bread. 

May we find our consolation in Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist. 

TWO: Consider the flight into Egypt.

Joseph the patriarch guarded grain in Egypt, and in so doing he saved all of Israel. Mary and Joseph guarded Jesus in Egypt so that one day he could say, “The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my very flesh.” (John 6:51)

May we find life in Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist.

THREE: Consider the loss of Jesus in Jerusalem.

Mary found Jesus giving answers to the teachers in the Temple. In Matthew chapter 12, Jesus speaks of himself when he says, “Something greater than the temple is here.” 

May we find the answers to our life in Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist.

FOUR: Consider Mary walking with Jesus to Calvary.

Mary followed Jesus as he carried his cross. In John chapter 12, Jesus says, “Whoever serves me must follow me.“ Jesus also says in John chapter 12, “Amen. Amen. I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat, but if it dies it produces much fruit.” 

The Eucharist is the fruit of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus.

May our lives bear fruit as we serve Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist.

FIVE: Consider Mary standing at the foot of the Cross.

Also, in John, chapter 12, Jesus says, “When I am lifted up, I will draw all men to myself.” Jesus lifted up on the cross is the same as Jesus lifted up in the consecration.

May we be drawn to spend time with Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist.

SIX: Consider Mary receiving the Body of Christ.

We can see two differences between ourselves and Mary. First, Mary received the body of Christ when he was bloodied and dead. But we receive the body of Christ in a spotless, life-giving host. The second difference is that our sufferingspale in comparison to the sufferings of our blessed mother.

May we console Mary with our worthy reception of Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist.

SEVEN: Consider the burial of Jesus.

As Mary devoutly placed the Body of Christ in the tomb, may we never forget the threefold reality of the Body of Christ. The human body, the Eucharistic body, and the Church as the Body of Christ. 

May we never abandon the Church through our devotion to Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist.