The invitation we receive from today’s scriptures encourages us to open our eyes to see the good our hearts desire as we receive the Eucharist; the depths of our souls long evermore to hear the call of Our Father in Heaven. Jesus came to make known the kingdom of God’s love, the kingdom of heaven. Jesus invites us to the divine life amid our temporal realities. The Holy Spirit ignites the Incarnation to be apostolic and answer our Lord’s invitation to serve.

I am typing this reflection on day 33 in the ICU, with my husband healing from a sepsis infection. The Eucharist has sustained my life as a caretaker thus far, and I will continue giving grace by receiving Jesus daily. He has given us an example in Saint Andrew of what it means to leave our boats and follow our pathway to salvation.

In Communion, there is also pleasure; it is sweet, delicious, and divine, the delight of God.  When he invites us, he always says: Come, my dove.  He says this in the Song of Songs: to invite the soul, he always uses gentle expressions: Come, my dove (cf. Song 2:14).  The dove is simple: Come, my sister (cf. Song 4:9); no one is afraid of a brother or sister. Come, my spouse (cf. Song 4:8), one is not afraid of a spouse.  Enter into my chamber (cf. Song 2: 4).  It’s not even a question of mercy, or forgiveness but of the encouragement that comes from his goodness.  You must answer our Lord’s invitation. (Saint Peter Julian to the Sister Servants, 1868)

Let us pray:

Lord, Jesus, Son of the living God, help us to respond to your call more faithfully with our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Saint Andrew and all your angels and saints.