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Reflecting on the 'Year of the Eucharist'
When Pope John Paul II proclaimed October 2004 to October 2005 as Year
of the Eucharist, he said, "From this 'living bread' she [the Catholic
Church] draws her nourishment. How could I not feel the need to urge everyone
to experience it ever anew?" (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 2003)
Sisters Nina Shephard, Mary Kathryn Fogarty and prayer affiliate Chandra Sherin acknowledge the closing of this year by sharing their personal reflections on their ever new experiences of Eucharist.
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| Chandra Sherin, an FSPA prayer affiliate since 2001, is a writer and artist. She lives in La Crosse with her husband and daughter. |
Eucharist: Christ's presence in my life
by Chandra Sherin
Beyond my own belief, beyond my own vision, Christ's presence in the Eucharist
never fails me. The nourishment of Christ's companionship at the soul/heart
level is a divine intimacy which bears lasting fruits. In the business of my
life, I hold the Eucharist as my life's breath. There have been times when because
of the demands of family, work and whatever else, I have missed Mass, and have
felt deprived of the nourishment of my Lord's presence, pitifully so.
This leads to me asking the Lord, "Are you still with me? Am I still following
you? Are we in sync, despite the loss of Mass this week?" The Lord answers,
reminding me of the days when regular folks and nuns, too, would only receive
the Eucharist once a month. This is not a solace or an excusing, but rather
a probing from the Lord. It led me to realize that my faith must stretch to
believe in the unlimited divine power of the Eucharist.
Ideally and personally I strive to attend Mass every Sunday. But what the Lord
showed me was that I needed to realize his presence didn't diminish after a
week in my heart and soul. The Lord drew my thoughts to how I can receive a
gift and if I don't use it, or don't realize how to use it, it cannot benefit
me. It may seem obvious, but it was a growth point for me, where I could begin
to utilize the power of Christ's presence beyond the artificial boundaries of
my understanding. Christ was answering, "I am still here, beyond what you
have thought."
The intimacy of the covenant relationship of the Eucharist demands preparation
of the heart. I must clear my heart space, at every Mass, of its business and
clutter to make way for the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a challenge to believe
the human heart is God's favorite dwelling place. It is not just to receive,
but to remain receptive to the Lord that challenges me, to keep the heart space
open to be an unlikely, but fine and fruitful dwelling place for the sacred.
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| Sisters Marian Reiter and Beatrice Hytry,
right, present wine to Father Tom O'Neill during a eucharistic celebration
at Mary of the Angels Chapel. Photo by Lisa Zmuda, FSPA |
I know a delightful little boy named Lars. A while back he had his first Eucharist.
It was a dynamic experience. He was well prepared and eager to experience this.
After receiving, he went back to the pew and told his mother about stripes that
were in him and coming out of him from the Eucharist. He felt and saw it with
great intensity and goodness. Later, at home, he explained his experience further,
until the understanding was that it was like rays of light within him and illuminating
out of him, and he felt protected. His passion in life at this age is dinosaurs
and godzilla, yet his mind and heart were open and ready to receive Christ's
presence, and he saw and felt a reality of our experience of Jesus in such a
beautiful way. What a powerful example, a gift, a clue, as to the depth and
power of Jesus' love and presence for us.
I go in my cycles in relating to Jesus in the Eucharist. Hopefully those cycles
open up and expand each time like a spiral. In the start I just sit and absorb
and cling to Jesus, like an adoring child needing much affection. Jesus challenges
me, and yet never turns away from my genuine needs. How enthralling that each
of us is granted intimate relationship on the highest level of spirituality
with the sacred. It is a graced mystery in life that we experience and have
confirmed in community.
Jesus is always drawing us to empowerment, growth, health and healing. Eventually
that leads to action that can be felt deeply and genuinely enough, so as to
be able to answer need through action without doubt or fear. The Holy Spirit
fortifies the willing heart.
Deeper yet Jesus draws us to his side where we realize the cross is known and
embraced, and it is a much greater challenge for us to accept the gifts of resurrection;
of being fed, nourished, infused with the Holy Spirit to the point of breaching
every normal obstacle we've encountered before.
In embracing the Risen Christ equally to Christ Crucified, a deep abiding joy
slowly streams into our soulscape. It clashes with our struggles in the dark
night and the years we spend in the desert, but it is abiding, beyond our cycles
of growth, slow or fast. It is the wellspring of hope. I often return to just
clinging and being with Christ's presence, lacking sometimes the freedom to
do more, or so I say. But deeply I trust Christ's will for me, and for all of
our precious family.
To place an importance, an honoring and focus on a Year of the Eucharist accentuates
the intimate covenant relationship we have with the Lord of Life. Like Christmas,
it doesn't end this year, it is perpetual and limitless. Eucharist draws all
of us closer to divine will, to the first and the last, the alpha and omega,
so we can, sooner or later, stop our clocks and calendars to dwell dynamically
in eternal life.
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O Sacrament Most Holy by Nina Shephard, FSPA We wanted to put up tents In rollicking hide-and-seek |
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Sister Nina Shephard ministers as a pastoral
assistant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She is an accomplished violinist and plays
at area nursing homes. She also leads a Spanish Bible study at an Iowa federal
prison. Sister Nina said the style of this poem on Eucharist was inspired
by Hafiz, a 14th century Persian Sufi poet. Poem by Nina Shephard, FSPA. Weaving by Carlene Unser, FSPA. Pottery by Laurice Heybl, FSPA |
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FEAST
by Mary Kathryn Fogarty, FSPA
Sister Mary Kathryn Fogarty wrote the reflection It's All About the Feast
for a liturgy held during the 2005 FSPA General Assembly (see related story.)
Her inspiration for the reflection initially came from the scripture for the
day, Isaiah 55, 1-3; Romans 8, 35, 37-39, Matthew 14, 13-21.
A self-professed procrastinator, she wrote the reflection just hours before
delivering it. "I worried about it for about five weeks. During the first
days of our assembly I listened and pulled out phrases. Then at the end of the
day I was walking to the car with Sister Beth Saner and as she left me she said,
'It's all about the feast.' I knew that was the phrase I needed to tie it all
together."
Sister Mary Kathryn points out that the piece was meant to be spoken, so to
get the full effect the reader may want to read the reflection out loud.
It's all about the feast
Come
Listen…
Eat bread
Drink fine wine . . .
Be at peace . . .
Come,
pay attention to the call of the soul
let love open our hearts anew
enjoy the abundance
delight in a banquet set for us by our God
Where all are welcome!
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FEAST
About the relationship of love
and the promise that NOTHING -
NOTHING can separate us from the love of God in
Christ Jesus.
In a feast that abounds with relationships of love,
We choose to speak and listen in love
To recognize the fragments of salvation in the stories told
And to release for each other the freedom and
holy wisdom of our lives.
With unrestrained love . . .
We RISK making big shadows for a God to move in.
We aspire to a VISION -
that creates a future
A future that embraces
The fullness of life for all peoples,
For Mother Earth and for the universe.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FEAST
This time in a deserted place . . .
Surrounded by a suffering and searching humanity
Faced with the poor, the broken-hearted,
the marginalized, and those who hunger
For love, for food, for justice . . .
Jesus said to the disciples and says it to us:
Give them some food yourselves.
CREATE A FEAST!
It is our hearts that must be moved to compassion and service.
It is our lives that must be blessed, broken and
shared.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FEAST
We come to the table of Eucharist
Yielding, stretching open toward God . . .
Surrendering to love
Saying with abandonment, "What do you want us to do?"
Confident we will be transformed by
the touch of God's tender mercy.
That we will become more fully who we are . . .
A contemplative presence in the world
A people of vision
Filled with the courage to show our soul
A community grateful, diverse and wise.
Humbly committed
To Gospel
To Mission
To the essence of our future
Come, come to the feast
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FEAST!
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Sister Mary Kathryn Fogarty currently ministers as vice-president of the FSPA congregation. She also volunteers at the La Crosse area Salvation Army and with Matthew 25, a program that assists women as they transition out of jail. |
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