One evening on the Biking for Babies National Ride, we were at mass in Ames, IA. We were sitting on the right side up in the front. Directly across from us, on the left side, was a mom with a few kids. One of the kids did not want to sit still and was moving between two pews, sitting on the floor, moving into the aisle and talking loudly. He looked to be around three years old. Right after the words of consecration, as the priest elevated the host, the little boy pointed and loudly yelled out, “that’s Jesus! That’s Jesus right there!” Do we, like this child, recognize who becomes present during the mass and is this reality enough for us?
In this past weekend’s Gospel, we heard the story about Jesus feeding the 5,000. A familiar Gospel that we’ve all heard and read countless times, there was one line in particular that I was struck by. In the passage, it says, “they all ate and were satisfied” (Matthew 14:20, NABRE). Everyone had eaten enough to be full. Jesus provided enough for them to be satisfied. It brings to mind the question, is Jesus enough for us? He makes Himself physically present to us at the Mass, and yet, oftentimes, people still go searching for something different. It must start with knowing and recognizing that Jesus is present to us at the Mass, just like the little boy.
The number of Catholics who are not attending Mass, or skipping it from time to time for whatever reasons, is high. There is nowhere we can go on earth to be closer to Jesus than the Mass. Yet, how often in our world do other events, duties, and excuses win? So many people do not think attending Mass will satisfy them, but I think if they truly knew and understood that Jesus is really present in the Eucharist, it would change everything.
Much else in our lives outside of Mass is good. Traveling, vacations, sports, concerts, celebrations, work, and so much more. But at the end of the day, they cannot fulfill us. We were made for more than the temporary and fleeting things of the world. Anything we want to try to fill our lives with will ultimately leave us empty. But Jesus never will.
If we know and believe that Jesus is present, it changes everything. And once we know, we must share it as much as we can with others. My prayer for each of us today is that we can be truly satisfied and that we can exclaim in our hearts and minds when we’re at mass, “that’s Jesus right there!”
Faith and The Good Stuff 