Are You Satisfied?

“They all ate and were satisfied.”

Luke 9:17a

On Corpus Christi Sunday we are invited to contemplate the great gift of the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Our Lord, and this year we hear the Lukan account of the multiplication of the loaves. After a day of teaching, the Apostles asks Jesus to dismiss the crowd so they can go find food and lodging. But, Jesus replies with something that might sound shocking — “Give them some food yourselves.” Five loaves and two fish were all they had and this needed to feed 5000 men along with any women and children. So, Our Lord said the blessing over the loaves and fish, broke them, and gave them to the people and we are told “they all ate and were satisfied.” When the Lord broke the loaves, all were fed and were satisfied. When the bread is broken on the altar and we eat, are we satisfied?

When my students casually say “I’m hungry,” I would sometimes half-jokingly ask, “Did you go to Mass? If so, you shouldn’t be hungry. You’ve eaten of the Bread of Life!” Of course we will still be physically hungry after receiving Communion, but we ought be spiritually full, for the Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian life,” and is the sustenance that feeds our souls. But how often do we seek other ways to satiate ourselves? Sometimes we try satisfy our needs and wants in ways that may even be inordinate and sinful, but why? Is the Lord not enough for us? What is it that we desire in life? Is it the Lord? Is it Communion with Him? Do our actions and way of living show this?

Today on this Corpus Christi Sunday let us contemplate on the gift of the Eucharist and how we approach this most awesome sacrament. When the Lord comes to meet us at the altar and blesses the gifts and the Holy Spirit turns the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of our Lord, and we go to meet Him and receive Him, will we be satisfied? Let’s not forget, after being fed and satisfied, we are told there were 12 wicker baskets filled with leftovers. Likewise, after receiving the Lord Himself, the graces do not end there. There are 12 wicker baskets overflowing with graces that the Lord wishes to give to us. We need only go to Him, and we will eat and truly be satisfied indeed.

That From Which We Come

“The love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”

Romans 5:5b

As Christians we believe in a Trinitarian God, that is One God, Three Divine Persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We have come to know that God is a Trinity through divine revelation — Scripture and Tradition. It is not something that we can test or prove, but rather a mystery that invites us to wonder.

When we ponder the mystery of the Trinity we are really pondering the nature of God. The Trinity exists as a community, a community of Persons. St. Augustine taught that the Father is the Lover, the Son is the Beloved, and the Holy Spirit is the Love that exists within that relationship. Love is only possible within a relationship and a relationship exists only between persons. So, God is a community of Persons who are in relationship with One Another, and this relationship is love. But, this Community of Love is not closed off, but rather God sent His Son into this world so that we too might become partakers in this special relationship.

By virtue of our baptism, we have been made children of God. We have become “heirs and coheirs with Christ,” meaning that whatever the Father gives to the Son, He also gives to us. We have been invited to partake in the very life of God. As such, we have been asked to partake in this life, living out this love in our lives in this world. It is not always easy. It is a choice that we must make every day — to choose love and to choose to see how God sees things, situations, and people, even those whom we do not like, every day. But we know God will give us the grace that we need to do so. That’s part of the mystery of God’s love, too. That He thinks so highly of us that He would call us His children and to love us unconditionally and to sustain us in all that we do and to forgive us and bear with us even when we do the most egregious of things.

May we never forget the great Love that God is and the love with and for which He has created us, and allow that to encourage us to live out our lives, choosing every day to love.

For another Trinity Sunday reflection, click here.

He is with Us

“Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.”

Luke 24:50-51

First published as “Jesus Did Not Leave” on May 21, 2023.

In many parts of the country, the Church celebrates the Ascension of Our Lord on the Seventh Sunday of Easter. Usually on Ascension Thursday or in many places the Sunday following the Ascension, we celebrate the day Jesus ascended into Heaven, returning to the Father to prepare a place for us all in His Father’s house. It is important to note that Jesus ascended into Heaven and yes, He returned to the Father, but He did not leave us.

After His Resurrection, Jesus stayed on earth for another 40 days, appearing to His disciples, perhaps preparing them for His ascension by reminding them of all He had taught them and encouraging them to keep the faith. When the 40 days came to an end, He ascended into Heaven but assured the disciples that, “I am with you always” even until the end of the age. So, did Jesus contradict Himself when He said this? His actions certainly did not match His words. How can He say He is with us always when He is literally going up into the sky? But we know that there can be no contradiction. There must be something deeper. There must be a more profound reality and truth here.

If Jesus said He remains with us always then He must mean it. Perhaps not in the same way He has been with the disciples, but a presence nonetheless. Jesus had promised to send the Holy Spirit (and, we celebrate this on Pentecost Sunday, next week!). The Holy Spirit is who remains with us and who makes Jesus present to us. For Catholics, at the Mass, it is the Holy Spirit who makes Jesus present in the Eucharist. For the baptized, we have received the Holy Spirit, and so Jesus remains with us always. So, when Jesus ascended into Heaven, He did not leave us, in fact, He remained with us in a way that is most personal — in our hearts, in our beings, and in our minds. Jesus is present in the Sacraments and so whenever we receive the Sacraments we experience a personal encounter with the Lord.

We can also understand this on a more human level. When we are away from our loved ones, we know they are still present in our lives. We can call them and write to them. Physical distance does not diminish their presence in our lives. Even when loved ones pass from this world, their presence does not diminish. If we truly believe in eternal life and in the Communion of Saints, then our deceased loved ones are present to us in a much realer way than ever before. We pray for them and they pray for us. We are bound together in faith and by the Holy Spirit. So, the same Jesus who died on the Cross, is the same Jesus who ascended into Heaven, and He is the same Jesus who remains with us today. Never doubt that Jesus is with you. Close your eyes and call out to Him. He is there. Go frequent the Sacraments — He is there. Kneel before the Blessed Sacrament — He is there. Look at your family and friends — He is there.

No, when Jesus ascended into Heaven He did not leave us, He chose to remain with us in a way that He could not before. He was by your side yesterday, is by your side today, and will be by your side tomorrow and always.