Recently I spoke to a mother who was asking to baptize her baby. Of course, I scheduled the baptism, but I also encouraged the young mother to attend Mass with her husband. Though I have not been a parent, I do understand that it is not easy to bring young children to church. But it can be done; I see people do it, but I agree that it is sometimes hard.
The young mother proudly told me that she and her husband often watch Mass online. She seemed to expect me to satisfied with online Catholicism. I commended her for tuning into the Mass, but I asked her if she misses the Holy Eucharist, receiving Jesus in the sacrament of Holy Communion.
When our churches were shut down because of Covid fears, I was encouraged that many people watched the Mass online. It seemed that people still valued their faith because they still tried to have some connection, even though physical participation was not allowed.
However, some people preferred online Mass over the inconvenience of going to church. Of course, online Mass viewing has declined and now many people are not going to Mass or watching it online.
Do Catholics really believe that they receive Jesus when they receive Holy Communion? I admit that sometimes Holy Communion becomes routine and that I don’t always take time to reflect on the majesty of the encounter with Jesus that is possible only in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. But I believe that I meet Jesus when I receive Holy Communion.
Even those of us who go to Mass in church need to revive our faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.
The weekend we celebrate Corpus Christ, the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. Jesus comes to us in such a humble form that it is easy to overlook what is happening. Jesus tells us in John Chapter 6 that those who eat His flesh and drink His blood will live forever. Today’s feast is an invitation from God for a Eucharistic revival, not just in the whole Church, but in the heart and mind of each of us.
