Bishop William F. Medley lifts the Eucharist during Mass for Celebration of Catholic Schools on July 28, 2023, at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Henderson. RACHEL HALL | WKC
The Eucharist: God’s daily provision
BY DR. JEFF ANDRINI, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
In the words of St. John Vianney, “What does Jesus do in the Eucharist? If you are in difficulties and sorrows, he will comfort you and relieve you. If you are sick, he will either heal you or give you the strength to suffer so as to merit heaven. If the devil, the world, or the flesh are waging war upon you, he will give you the weapons with which to fight, to resist and win the victory. If you are poor, he will enrich you with all sorts of riches for time and eternity.”
The Eucharist is necessary food for the journey and our Acts 2:42 Small Groups this month are reflecting on God’s provision in our lives. God is at work in our lives every moment of every day. In fact, God incidences happen daily, but we often miss the point and consider them as coincidences.
Just as God fed the Israelite community manna in the desert, God feeds us his Body and Blood and provides for our every need. Literally, we can depend on God’s daily provision.
When my wife and I were pregnant with our fourth child, we had an ultrasound at 20 weeks. We were sent to a specialist and told that he had a concave chest and other indicators of Down Syndrome. Thirty to forty people gathered at church to pray for us. At our next ultrasound, they could not see the concave chest but still cautioned us to do further testing, even though the amniotic fluid was low, and testing could negative impact the baby. We decided to not test further and trust. Joey was born healthy and graduates from University of Louisville next May!
My dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a year ago in August and we wondered if he would be with us at Christmas. Last weekend, my parents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. He is living with cancer and every day is a gift.
Our first home in St. Charles, Ill., was another one of those God incidences. My wife, daughter and I moved in with my parents. Housing prices were out of reach for my church salary. Then a home went up for sale a block away from my parents. I called immediately, as the phone number was further west. The guy told me the price and I bought it over the phone!
God works in all our lives in the inevitable suffering, and in ways beyond our wildest dreams. We simply need to see life from God’s perspective and recognize that the kingdom of God is present in and through our lives as Christians. God takes a personal and daily interest in our lives and walks with us through it all.
As we receive him; Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, we are united to him and him with us. In his deep love, he transforms our human existence into his divinity and walks with us every moment of every day. Come to him and receive your daily provision.
Peace in Christ,
Jeff
Dr. Jeff Andrini is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Discipleship, and can be reached at [email protected].
Originally printed in the October 2023 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
