A Foretaste of Heaven
Have you ever experienced pockets of Heaven on earth?
I’ve always dreamed of becoming a saint—I want to intercede for people who are struggling in life. My friends and I often share stories of the saints and how they lived a life God desires for each of us.
I sometimes wonder if becoming a saint is even possible these days. Especially knowing I have scars from sexual sin and addiction and worry about my tendency to fall again in the future. These scars haunt me at times, shaping how I see myself and holding me back from seeking the Lord’s call to be holy.
But God has an answer to all our seemingly impossible questions.
Becoming a saint in this generation? Absolutely possible!
Reaching heaven? Again, possible!
And what is even more incredible is that we can experience a taste of Heaven here on earth. How? Through the sacraments. Most especially, the Eucharist.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church,
“The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions.” (CCC 1131)
What seems impossible to us the Father makes possible. Many stories of the saints center around their deep love of the Eucharist and eagerness to receive Christ daily through this sacrament. It is not just a piece of bread, or a symbol, or a figure of speech; it’s Jesus, Body and Soul.
So with that, there are three things on my heart I’d like to share about the Eucharist.
First, Jesus seeks communion with us. It was during one of our Magdala small group meetings that I was reminded of His desire to be with us. He wants me to receive Him, even though I am unworthy. He desires to be with me. And if we open our hearts to that reality, we can be transformed by Him every time we receive communion.
Second, Jesus wants to satisfy us. He wants to fill the longing in our hearts. All the wounds, all our doubts, all our fears—He wants to heal them. Along my journey, I have often tried to satisfy this deep desire to be loved myself, only to end up more hurt and broken than I was before. I tried to fill this hunger with worldly distractions, only to find myself feeling empty in the end. But Jesus—in His deep love for me—desires to feed and nourish this ache. It is His presence that will truly satisfy us.
Lastly, Jesus wants to sanctify us. I have come to realize that when we are one with Him, it transforms our lives. We are inspired to make our lives worthy of receiving Him. The Eucharist offers many miracles, from the transformation of the bread and wine into His Body and Blood to the transformation of those who receive it. It is the sanctifying grace we receive that drives us to improve our lives and open ourselves up to His love.
We are all saints in the making. Our journey towards healing may not be perfect, but we have a perfect God who is always willing to embrace us when we face setbacks and lift our hands in triumph when we achieve victory.
Let us seek refuge in Him who wants to be in communion with us, and let it bear fruit.
“What wonderful majesty! What stupendous condescension! O sublime humility! That the Lord of the whole universe, God and the Son of God, should humble Himself like this under the form of a little bread, for our salvation.” —St. Francis of Assisi
Jesus, ever present in the Eucharist, transform us even if we are not ready. Amen.