As I drove into work this morning I noticed that the vibrant colors were gone. The once picturesque tunnel of trees now resembled a barren wasteland. Most of the leaves had fallen and bare branches prepared for winter. Before too much disappointment could set in, I came upon a verdant grove of pines. The faithful evergreens restored my hope and reminded me of the great celebration of Christ’s birth soon to come.
Shifting Seasons
Such simple ponderings shifted my mind to the cycle of life. I even have a row of four images in my living room to remind me of it. My grandmother painted me the same country scene in each of the four seasons. The trees tell all. In spring their small pink buds appear. In summer their leaves are a healthy green. In fall they give a colorful display. In winter their branches are barren and snow-laden.
As living and breathing human beings, we also go through cycles in our lives, whether it be birth, life and death, or simply the ups and downs of the everyday. We may have seasons when we feel fulfilled and joyful, others when we feel hopeless and sad, and others when perhaps we don’t feel anything at all… except boredom.
I remember hearing a popular Catholic evangelist talk about the Mass once. He was chiding those who don’t go to Mass because it’s boring. “The very Son of God comes down to us in His Flesh and Blood! How can that be boring?!” he exclaimed.
It’s so true. How can it be boring? It’s not. But we allow our minds to wander, our zeal to falter, our tiredness to overtake us and to us it becomes just that. Boring.
Renewing Zeal for the Eucharist
What can we do to awaken the springtime within us? How can the vibrant green of our souls shine forth once again? And more importantly, how can we allow the vibrant gift of God’s love to shine forth from us once again?
We need the Eucharist. Perhaps we have used the Bishops’ permission to be excused from Sunday Mass as an excuse not to go. Perhaps we are scared to go back. Perhaps—like I'm prone to do—we think praying in our cars while driving is just as good as praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
While talking to my Dad about a difficult issue I was dealing with, he reminded me that there is nothing like praying in the presence of Christ. There is nothing like that gentle silence leading your heart back to Him.
The Eucharist + Our Thanksgiving
So sisters, I invite you to reflect on what season of life you may find yourself in. Are you up? Are you down? Are you in springtime or fall? Are you ever-green? Are you bored?
Run, sisters! Run to the Eucharist! Let Him whisper sweetly to you and renew your soul.
The Eucharist as Thanksgiving #BISblog //Click to tweet
Tami Urcia is a bilingual Midwestern gal from a large Catholic family. After doing a few years of missionary work in Mexico, living and working in a few different states, she finally found home in a small town where her kids enjoy the fresh air and wide open spaces. She works at Diocesan, is a regular contributor at CatholicMom.com and has been translating on the side for 20 years.
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