Editorial

Now, with a renewed focus on the Eucharist, our mission begins

“A Eucharistic people is a missionary and evangelizing people. … Go, go, go. … Let us proclaim Jesus joyfully and zealously for the life of the world!”

Those words offered by papal envoy Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle during a homily at the closing Mass of the National Eucharistic Congress on July 21 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis punctuated a five-day renewal of faith.

But the message—offered to more than 50,000 Catholics at the liturgy—was meant for all Catholics across the U.S. who were invited to go forth and proclaim the Gospel anew to all they encounter on their pilgrimage of faith. And each of us would do well to take those words to heart and embrace the charge to go out on mission.

Cardinal Tagle, who serves the Holy See as the pro-prefect of the Section for the First Evangelization and New Particular Churches of the Dicastery for Evangelization, told Massgoers that “conversion to the Eucharist” was the message Pope Francis wanted to share at the Congress.

The Holy Father, he continued, “Prays, as we all do, that the Congress may bear much fruit for the renewal of the Church and of society in the United States of America.”

If last week was any indication, what was possibly the largest gathering of Catholics for worship in the history of the state of Indiana offered a good start and represented a great public witness to the power of Jesus Christ to touch and change lives.

In his homily, Cardinal Tagle said that renewal will occur if people become eucharistic missionaries, connecting “eucharistic conversion” with “missionary conversion.”

Reflecting on how God sent his Son into the world, the cardinal said Jesus came “as a life-giving gift” who gave his “flesh for the life of the world.”

“Jesus’ description of his being sent by the Father is always connected to the gift of his flesh for others,” he noted, “being sent and being a gift.”

“The Eucharist is a privileged moment to experience Jesus’ mission as a gift of himself,” Cardinal Tagle added.

We, too, have gifts to share with others and must not be afraid to go out on mission to show how the Eucharist—the greatest gift of the Catholic faith—has transformed our lives. We must not walk away from our eucharistic Lord or lack confidence in proclaiming how Christ is integral to our lives. And we must have the courage to proclaim that truth to everyone we encounter—the poor, the sick, the homeless, the migrant, the refugee—everyone. We must joyfully let Christ’s light shine in us.

“When pessimism takes over, we see only darkness, failures, problems, things to complain about,” Cardinal Tagle said. “We do not see gifts in persons and events. And those who do not see gifts in themselves and in others, they will not give gifts; they will not go on a mission.

“Go and share Jesus’ shepherd’s caress to the lost, confused and weak,” he continued, referencing St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. “Go and share Jesus’ gift of reconciliation and peace to those who are divided.”

In closing, Cardinal Tagle reminded his audience “a eucharistic people is a missionary and evangelizing people.”

Our charge now, is to “go, go, go” out and joyfully share how the Eucharist transforms lives.

It will not be easy, but let us pray that we each find the courage to develop a new sense of mission that allows us to recommit ourselves to the Lord Jesus and his good news—a recommitment to encouraging our brothers and sisters to join us on our missionary journey and call to discipleship.

Seminarian Austin Thomas of the Archdiocese of Atlanta may have said it best when he reminded his fellow pilgrims that the Congress was only the beginning.

“This is just the start, this isn’t the finish line. When we go back to our home parishes, that is where the real mission begins,” he said. “It’s very easy to worship with all of these people, but it’s your relationship with the Lord, it’s the encounter you had here … Now you bring it back home … and continue to fall deeply in love with the Lord.”

Please, Holy Spirt, guide us as we enter this time of eucharistic missionary conversion. Let us rely on your grace and move forward in faith, hope and love.

—Mike Krokos