Written by Natalie Francis
I don’t have a story. I don’t really have anything share. I grew up in a pretty average Catholic home. 2 parents, 5 kids, 100 cousins! I went to Catholic high school. Went to college. Got married and had 2 kids. No drama, not trauma, nothing. That’s the way I like it. These are the things I’m comfortable with people knowing about me. But what does God want people to know about me?
S. James Meyer wrote, “I have to ask myself if I’ve allowed others to see and touch my wounds. Have I been too proud? Too shy? Too aloof? Too self-protective?”
Allowed others to see and touch my wounds? Rarely
Too proud – check
Too shy – check
Too aloof - check
Too self -protective – for sure!
Too sensitive? Too embarrassed? Too afraid of failure? I could go on about all my insecurities. But why do I feel like this? God knows who we are. He sent His son, not just to be crucified for us. He actually came down from heaven and became a man for us.
When I allow these feelings to take over and control me, it prevents me from being in real meaningful (sacred) relationships. I never really break myself open and give my full self to others. It is the times when I do allow others to see me for who I am that I get to the “big E Eucharist”. I get to feel Christ living in others, and I hope they feel His love through me.
“Normally, we try to disguise our wounds and hide our vulnerability. We don’t want others to see how broken we really are. But when we open ourselves to each other in that way, Christ lives! We become believers.”
For me (and I think for many of us) serving a meal, running an errand, washing dishes or volunteering in some other way is easy, “little e eucharist”.
My husband Rob and I have had many “little e” opportunities over the years as Co-coordinators of OLIH’s Family Promise Ministry. We were also witness to the eucharist shared with our families by so many of our volunteers. For the most part, these were “little e – eucharist”. We were able to feed the families, give them a ride, a place to sleep. All which they really needed. But it was rare that we were able to form a relationship with these families.
Meaningful relationships take time, take patience, take courage to step outside of yourself and be the Christ that lives within you. Your true authentic self.
God is asking us to be our true authentic self, so why do we hide those wounds? As the song goes, “We are many parts, we are all one body. And the gifts we have, we are given to share.” How can we be one body if we don’t honestly share ourselves with others?
When I don’t show my own vulnerability. I prevent others from showing theirs. I come across as judging when what I really want to do is love as I have been asked in the Eucharist. I miss out on Eucharistic opportunities to form meaningful relationships and serve others When we are able to share our wounds, it makes us more empathetic to others. We don’t judge them because we know we are also broken.
In October we celebrated my daughter and her husband’s wedding. As anyone who has ever planned a wedding knows, this can be stressful. Fashion, decorating and large social gatherings are not my strengths, so the stress was increasing. But then I realized, everyone at this wedding is someone who knows us, loves us and has been Eucharist to us at one time or another. These are the people I’ve laughed with, cried with, shared my life and Jesus with. What could go wrong?
Once I realized this, the weeks leading up to the wedding were busy, but calm. The wedding was perfect! At least from my viewpoint. There was so much love in that room, surely Jesus was there with us!
We were experiencing Eucharist. Weddings are the closest we can get to heaven on Earth.
With the discontinuation of Family Promise, I will have to find other ways to serve others with “little e eucharist”. I am also going to strive to be more vulnerable, more authentic, more open to the Christ I am called to be every time I receive His body and blood, so that I can truly bring Eucharist to others!
“Eucharist begets eucharist”
A little Catholic Bonus to share:
This list of the top ten reasons for being Catholic was compiled from lists submitted by individuals, groups and parishes in the Archdiocese of Dubuque during the Year of Faith 2012-13. It is available as a brochure from the Archdioceses Adult Formation Office.
The Top 10 Reasons for Being Catholic
10. The Universal Church
9. The Saints
8. Prayer and Devotions
7. Catholic Social Teaching
6. Scripture and Tradition
5. Mary, Our Blessed Mother
4. Apostolic Tradition
3. Community
2. Sacraments
And the #1 Reason for being a Catholic… THE EUCHARIST
What draws you deeper into your Catholic faith?