It is a happy thing that the U.S. Bishops are leading a Eucharistic Revival because so many American Catholics are missing out on receiving this gift beyond all gifts.

 

In a way, we all stumble around to some extent over this amazing mystery because even when we totally believe Jesus is before us in the Eucharist, our so-limited senses keep veiling that knowledge. It is a weird situation where our eyes prevent us from seeing Him, you might say.

 

But then, the Eucharist is unique in all the world. By beginning with what are arguably the most commonplace of foods, with no changes made visible to our eyes, Jesus deliberately designed a way to be with us that will, of necessity, prompt and even force our faith to grow. 

 

Important note: there have been a variety of physically-visible Eucharistic miracles over the centuries along with some people who were sustained by the Eucharist alone for years and decades. Such things, by the way, are private revelations and we are not required to believe them. And they are rare, thought to happen to help Catholics in their quest to believe.

 

Faith and love are the way to move past the physical, touchable, consumable bread and wine to the mystical reality of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. Usually He is described as “hidden” within, but I find the word “disguised” ponderable as well.

 

Why might Jesus choose such a confoundable means of uniting with us?

 

God, being infinite and almighty, is fully capable of dazzling us with miracles and wondrous signs, of course. But that’s not the plan of Father, Son and Spirit. 

 

God wants to love us and have that love returned. Since such a relationship is a two-way giving and receiving, we need to agree to His plan for it to be realized. If God razzle-dazzled us, it would be harder for us to develop a real connection to Him because we’d be enamored with the sparkles, not with the One behind the glitz. 

 

The common, unglamorous look of the host is only going to have meaning for those with faith. People throughout history have gotten stuck in worship of some dramatic and impressive piece of creation and then are blocked by it in any quest to know the Creator. They think they see a god in something, instead of seeing that something in God. 

 

Another logical aspect of having the Eucharist look so plain can be seen in human relationships.

 

We can understand how a rich person might end up with a spouse who secretly is more in love with his/her money or power than with him/her. The misplaced love might be deliberate, but it could also stem from a spouse being confused by their own motives. The test of such a love would be if it remains strong should the power and money disappear.

 

How much richer and more powerful is God than any human being!

 

Although He cannot be fooled, we certainly can fool ourselves about how much/little we love God. It’s probably impossible for us to have an accurate sense of our own hearts without the tests and challenges that come along and prompt the need for perseverance, for faith unsupported by outer helps.

 

Belief in and faithfulness to Jesus in the Eucharist requires steadfastness and determination. Even if we’ve had bits of insights or mystical experiences regarding the Eucharist we have to develop those diligent kinds of virtues to keep our faith intact over the years and decades of life.

 

Then, over time, without the usual things that attract us, we can glimpse with the “eyes” of our hearts, minds and souls, the never-ending treasure and sustenance that is the Eucharist.