May 11-12, 2020 - Liturgy of the Eucharist (part 4) "Come Let Us Adore"

Over this past week or so I have reflected with you on the Liturgy of the Eucharist, which is the summit of the Mass.  We have focused on the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.  We learned that the Mass is our way of properly thanking God by offering to God the Father, Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, as the acceptable sacrifice for ourselves and our sins. 

Coming to a greater understanding of the importance of Mass, we have reflected on the appropriate way we should prepare ourselves to meet the Lord in Holy Communion and how our union with God is meant to transform us.  Our awareness of Jesus being present Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist should awaken within us a deep longing to come be in the presence of God.  

This leads us to our final reflection on the Eucharist, Eucharistic Adoration, what is it and why do we do it:

What is Eucharistic Adoration?  This is prayer outside the celebration of Mass when we come to adore Jesus Christ Who is present to us in the Eucharist.  Our Lord Jesus is present in the tabernacle in church, yet His presence is hidden from us by the tabernacle.  At Eucharistic Adoration a large consecrated host is placed in a circular glass case called a Luna, then this is placed into a monstrance so that Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist can be seen. The word monstrance comes from Latin and means “to show”.  Thus the monstrance shows us Our Lord Jesus.  The Luna is placed in the center of the monstrance so our attention is focused on Jesus, just as Jesus should be the center and focal point of our lives.

Why do we adore Jesus in the Eucharist?  Jesus invites us to come to Him and spend time with Him in prayer.  He said to His apostles in the garden of Gethsemane, “Could you not even watch one hour with me?”  We come to watch and pray with Jesus, to offer him our heart and soul, to share our thoughts, feelings, hopes, fears and joys.  Most especially, though, we come to listen to His word to us, so we come in silence and humility.  All of our parishes offer time for Eucharistic Adoration; let us make a commitment to spend time with the Lord in adoration.  

Now as we prepare hopefully soon to be welcomed back to the celebration of the Eucharist and to offer the Eucharistic sacrifice to God our Father, and receive Jesus in Communion, let us take this time to make a sincere and daily act of spiritual communion to deepen our longing for Jesus’ real presence in the Eucharist.  Let us pray for the grace to recognize and appreciate more fully the presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.