Eucharist in the Time of Corona

For my family, this time of year brings anticipation of celebrating not only upcoming holidays, but also all of our birthdays.  These celebrations are times when we gather to share, to be fed, and to remember.  In sharing memories, we are reminded of who we are as persons and as a family.  Covid deprived us of such celebrations for the past two years, but this year we look forward to being together again in person. The restrictions of the pandemic have reminded us how precious those times are.   There is much work and preparation that goes into family celebrations, but it is work done with joy.  Preparing the meals that we share, knowing that our efforts feed those we love, give these gatherings the qualities of Eucharist. God’s grace abounds in them.

Jesus must have realized the importance of gathering, remembering, sharing, and being fed.  The Eucharist that Jesus gave us is just that.  In the gathering and sharing, we are reminded who we are and who we are called to be.  The past two years have reminded us how precious those times are.  As a Eucharistic people, we are nourished by coming together as a community, a family, however we are able to do that.