Eucharist: Doses of Grace, Over a Lifetime
by Paulist Fr. Rich Andre
August 13, 2018

Paulist Fr. Rich Andre preached this homily on the 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year B) on August 12, 2018, at St. Austin Parish in Austin, TX. The homily is based on the day’s readings: 1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 34; Ephesians 4:30 – 5:2; and John 6:41-51.



In the process we use for those people interested in learning more about Catholicism – called RCIA – we often use the Bread of Life discourse from the Gospel of John as our basis for learning about the Eucharist. If someone comes faithfully to RCIA, more often than not, they will be “hooked” after attending a session on the Eucharist. Once they pray with the 6th chapter of John in light of our teaching about the Eucharist, they want to become Catholic!

Every third year in August, we hear John’s great “Bread of Life” discourse spread out over four weekends. That’s great on one level: there is plenty about the Eucharist to explore over four weeks, but there’s also a disadvantage. By hearing the discourse in small bits, we miss the power of hearing it as a whole. So, this month, please try to make the time to pray with the “Bread of Life” discourse in its entirety in one sitting. 

The Eucharist is so many things for us. Today, we explore the Eucharist as a sacrament, a vehicle of grace.

As we prepare to receive the most Blessed Sacrament once again, let us acknowledge our sins and ask for God’s mercy.


In 2000, I took a job in my hometown of Pittsburgh. In 2001, I felt a call from God to consider the priesthood. In 2002, my application was rejected by the Diocese of Pittsburgh. I continued working as an engineer in 2003 before deciding in 2004 to quit my job, move back in with my parents, and concentrate on discerning my future.

So, at the age of 30, living at home without a job, I had my first opportunity to attend a parish mission. Fr. Richard, a Vincentian priest from Chicago, covered a seemingly random group of topics in his mission, but one made an impression on me. He talked about how one day, as a priest, he suddenly realized that a particular person had wronged him 17 years before, and that he had never forgiven that person.

It was a freaky moment of coincidences. Since moving back to Pittsburgh, I had been scared of running into a certain person from my past, because I was scared that I would fly into a rage upon seeing her. This person had played the same role in my life as the person who had wronged Fr. Richard played in his life. This person had also hurt me 17 years ago. I suddenly knew I had to pray very hard to God, asking for the grace to forgive this person.

When we struggle with sinful behaviors in our lives, most of us do not suddenly wake up one day with a new-found ability to resist temptation or to bestow forgiveness. The people who receive those kinds of overnight conversions are rare, but they make for great testimonials for the rest of us who feel we’re struggling on our journey of Christian discipleship. 

And I think that that is part of the reason why God has given us the great gift of the Eucharist. It’s the Blessed Sacrament, the ultimate sacrament. You’ve heard me say it before, and you’ll hear me say it again: “Sacraments are not a reward for a job well done; they’re graces for the journey ahead.” We only receive the sacraments of baptism and confirmation once in our lives, with the grace of that sacrament lasting us a lifetime. Likewise, most people ideally receive the sacrament of marriage only once. Ordination is also a one-time sacrament. The sacraments we can receive multiple times are the sacraments of healing. Pope Francis likes to compare the Church to a hospital, called to heal wounds. We can receive the anointing of the sick whenever we have a serious illness – even receiving it on a regular basis if we are chronically ill. One of the reasons we’re supposed to go to confession on a regular basis is that it is an opportunity for grace, for mercy, and for healing. But the sacrament we are supposed to receive on a weekly basis – if not a daily basis – is the Eucharist. It is the spiritual “daily bread” which God provides to us. Even on Sundays when we don’t feel especially holy, the Eucharist assures us that we’re doing something to continue to receive grace for the journey.

Fr. James Martin talks about how he struggled with certain sinful behaviors in his life for years, feeling as though he wasn’t making any progress on his journey of discipleship. One day, his spiritual director pointed to a tree outside. “What color is that tree?” “Green,” said Fr. Jim. “In the fall it will be red,” said his spiritual director, “and no one sees it change.”

That’s how it works for a lot of us. For a long time, it seems as if we’re not getting anywhere in converting our lives. Conversion eventually starts to happen, but we don’t usually notice it until it’s complete. Fr. James writes that he’s had that experience in his life many times.

So have I. Several years ago, I suddenly realized that one of the trees in my emotional garden had changed color. I no longer harbored rage for that person who hurt me 17 years before Fr. Richard had preached that homily.

I wish I could tell you that I no longer harbor such rage against anyone. But in 2015, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that I had similar feelings about someone who hurt me in 1998. 17 years ago. Coincidence? I don’t think so! 

The life of holiness is not about achieving perfection in this lifetime. It’s about getting closer and closer to perfection, but there will always be a gap. Hopefully, we’re doing better on our faith journey today than we were five years ago, and hopefully, we’ll be doing even better in five years than we are now. But we will never be perfect in this lifetime. Receiving the Eucharist is one of the best ways we have to continue to close the gap.

Let us continue to eat the bread that is the flesh for the life of the world!