For the past year, the Archdiocese of Baltimore has observed “The Year of the Eucharist.” Anticipating the multi-year Eucharistic Revival initiative of the United States Bishops, the Premier See has transformed these past months into a warm and loving invitation for Catholics to return to the center of their faith, the celebration of Sunday Eucharist.
As we all know, Mass attendance has been declining for decades. There are many reasons for this. Top of mind is COVID. As of this writing, our Mass attendance has not yet bounced back to pre-COVID levels. Some are still wary of being in close contact with others. Others find it more convenient and comfortable to watch Mass on an electronic device, including those who are neither sick nor housebound.
Sadly, there are deeper reasons for the decline. Among them are the scandals that have wounded the Body of Christ. For this, we must engage in sincere repentance, especially those of us in church leadership. So too, many baptized Catholics have never truly encountered the Lord and thus opened their minds and hearts to the Church’s authentic teaching on the ways in which Christ is present in the Eucharist. Then, there is the busyness of life and the ennui many feel after a difficult week, as also, the challenge of packing up the family and getting to Mass.
All these challenges are real, but none of them compare with the truth, joy, beauty and grace of encountering the Lord in the Eucharistic mystery. With all that is swirling around in our lives, with all the cares and concerns of hearts, with all that we hold near and dear, we ask with the Psalmist, “Whom else have I in the heavens? None beside you delights me on earth” (Ps 73:25). “The Lord is my salvation, whom shall I fear?” (Ps 27:1).
Many things bring fleeting happiness, but sooner or later, those things fail. Many things bring fear and anxiety, but “only in the Lord is my soul at rest” (Ps 62:1). Only the Lord can still the restlessness of our hearts and fill us with joy – as individuals and as a people of faith. Nothing compares with truly encountering the Lord.
The Eucharistic encounter with Christ, crucified and risen: this is at the heart of the Year of the Eucharist. Each baptized Catholic is a living part of the Body of Christ. Each of us and all of us together are connected to Christ “as branches to the vine” and we draw our inspiration, mercy and strength from him – not merely in our imaginations but because the Lord draws near to us, inviting us to be gathered into together in his person and in his saving love.
This is why we gather for Eucharist on Sunday, the Lord’s day, the day of Resurrection: to listen to the voice of the Lord speaking to us in the Scriptures; to perceive his presence among us as a worshiping community; to acknowledge in faith how he speaks and acts through the priest offering Mass; above all, to receive the Lord’s body, blood, soul and divinity, given for our salvation and for the life of the world!
Sunday, June 19, is the Solemnity of the Lord’s Body and Blood, Corpus Christi. I will celebrate Holy Mass at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen at 11 a.m., followed by an outdoor Eucharistic procession. I have asked that representatives of every parish take part in this special Mass, and I warmly invite everyone to participate as we come together as an archdiocesan family of faith. May the Eucharistic Lord gather us together as one!
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