In a recent Adoration Letter article titled “Too Tired To Care,” I wrote about the importance of making an effort to always keep your mind young, fresh, enthusiastic, and hopeful. In the article, I mentioned a reporter who had followed Mother Teresa around for several days and was completely exhausted by the end of each day. The reporter noticed that Mother Teresa, who was more than twice the age of the reporter, appeared to be as fresh and energetic as she was when she started each day.
There was an important point that I failed to mention about what Mother Teresa told the reporter when the reporter asked her how she was able to maintain such a high level of energy. Mother Teresa explained that her energy came from the Eucharist. She pointed out to the reporter that she always began her day with a minimum of one hour in the presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
Earlier this month, we were reminded in one of the Sunday gospels about how after rising from the dead, our Lord joined two of his disciples on their way to Emmaus. While engaging in a discussion about what had taken place prior to His death, Jesus provided a detailed explanation of how the scriptures, beginning with Moses and all the prophets, foretold His death and resurrection.
Despite the extensive conversation that took place between Jesus and the two disciples, they did not recognize Him until after they sat down with Him for a meal.
Just as it was necessary for the disciples to spend one-on-one time with our Lord and then actually join Him for a meal before they could have a full understanding and appreciation of who He was and what He was teaching them, it is necessary for us to spend one-on-one time with Him and join Him for a meal before we can understand and appreciate Him.
Mother Teresa knew this little-known secret and put it into practice by spending one-on-one time with our Lord every day in the adoration chapel. She also frequently joined Him for meals by attending Mass and receiving Holy Communion. Not only did her daily practice result in a better understanding and appreciation of her Savior, it also provided her with a youthful, energetic, hopeful, and enthusiastic mind and soul.
While most people spend hours every day on their bodies — showering, shaving, putting on makeup, eating, exercising, and relaxing — they spend little or no time on their minds and souls. At a minimum, in order to keep your mind young, fresh, enthusiastic, and hopeful, you should be (1) spending time every day in conversation with our Lord, and (2) joining Him for a meal as often as possible.
Your daily conversations can take place in the adoration chapel and mealtime can occur when you attend Mass and receive Holy Communion.
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DEAR GEORGETTE AND HARRY –
WHAT A BLESSING! THANK YOU FOR THE EUCHARISTIC “BOOST”! DURING MY RETREAT LAST YEAR, SISTER MARILYN SPOKE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN US, AND WITH EACH PERSON WE MEET; WE ARE “EUCHARIST” TO ONE ANOTHER. BEING EUCHARIST ONE TO ANOTHER IS WITH A SMALL “c”, OF COURSE. I HADN’T THOUGHT OF EUCHARIST IN THAT WAY BEFORE THAT, BUT IT BROUGHT ALIVE TO ME THE TRUE MEANING OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH EVERY ONE WE ENCOUNTER. YOUR WRITE UP EMPHASIZED THE IDEA FOR ME!
LOVE, SISTER ROBERTA