18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
John 6:24-35
Reflection on the Eucharist from the writings of St Teresa of Avila
“I am quite sure that if we could but once approach the Most Holy Sacrament with great faith and love, it would suffice to make us rich. How much more so if we approach it often!”
St Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
When St. Teresa of Avila was planning to found a new Carmelite monastery, one of her criteria was that the Sisters would be able to have daily Mass. This gives us an insight into the importance of the Eucharist in the life and spirituality of this sixteenth-century Carmelite. St Teresa’s Eucharistic devotion focused mainly on Christ’s presence in the bread and wine. For her the Blessed Sacrament was a wonderful gift, which she personally experienced as a source of strength, healing and intimacy with Christ.
In The Way of Perfection, Teresa writes that in the gift of the Blessed Sacrament Jesus remains with us to “help, encourage and sustain us in doing God’s will”. She firmly believed that this presence of Christ is a powerful source of healing -spiritual, emotional and even physical. Teresa’s conviction is, perhaps, reflected today at places such as Lourdes, where the Eucharistic celebrations bring healing in all sorts of ways to those who take part. Her thanksgiving after Holy Communion was the time par excellence for Teresa to be with the Lord, her friend, and abide in his love. It is not surprising that many of her mystical experiences happened at this time. In one such experience, she heard the words: “Don’t try to hold me within yourself, but try to hold yourself within me” (Spiritual Testomies,14)