A Scary Question!
"What" and "If" are two words as non-threatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: What if? What if? What if?
~Letters to Juliet~
OK OK, so ignore the fact that that the quote I just used was from a chick flick. They fit! Yeah these two posts are really close together (or at least they are when I started this one!) But like I said, I just got inspiration to write about this, and when I do I need to write or I'll lose what I wanted to say! And if you know me.... well I talk just a little too much! So it's better for me to get things out here.
I'm doing something I haven't done so far, and don't normally plan on doing, but this time needed it. The topic tonight is exactly the title. It comes from one of my heroes, Mark Hart. And it leads to the true topic tonight. So I guess maybe I'm not so far off after all. Without further ado, the topic of the night...
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What If?
What if is a scary question to ask. It's one that can get us into a lot of trouble. It can waste a life. What if I'd chosen not to do that? What if I'd said yes? What if I did move? What if? Like the quote said above, those two little tiny words can make you rethink your life a million times over. But they have power to evoke great change in your life. Why is this the topic of the night? Well it's leading into the true topic.
The Eucharist
The source and summit of our faith. Jesus Christ truly present, body, blood, soul, and divinity. The greatest gift humanity has ever been given. Even the angels cannot receive this gift! The true presence of Christ is also one of the hardest things in all of existence to accept. Notice I didn't say understand. I don't think any of us will really ever fully understand it. But accept. It's one of the things that is non-negotiable of the Catholic faith. (If you're not Catholic and you haven't figured it out by now, this one's kinda geared towards them. Feel free to read though!) ... (In fact do read!) ... (And tell your friends too!) ... (But now I'm getting off topic...)
But even though we profess to believe it, so many people in their heart of hearts don't! And you know what? I don't judge them at all. I have to pray all the time for help in that area. Rather I pray for them too. It's such a beautiful gift if we take time to process the full impact of it. And yet so many people go up to receive it each and every weekend not knowing. Not believing. Oh it's just a piece of bread. Oh let's hurry so we can get out of the parking lot. Oh I wonder what I'm doing later.
What if?
I understand it's hard to believe. But Mark Hart offers an amazing prayer. I learned about it at a life night recently and it's stuck with me since then. It doesn't take long to pray, but it can change your life. If you're struggling with the True Presence, or even if you're not and you just want a different form of meditation, try this.
The next time you go up for communion, even if you don't believe pray "God, what if that's really you?"
Two small words.
What if?
What if that's really God? What would that mean? What amazing gifts would that bring? How could my life change if I really believed that? What if that bread is no longer bread, but the King of the Universe?
What if?
It's such an impactful prayer if you are willing to be open to the answers you might receive. It's not easy to believe in the Eucharist. It's such a very very difficult thing that God asks us to do. But the benefits are so much more. So next time ask... What If?
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Yeah, this one was shorter, but it needed to be! I just really wanted to share this message! I'm really just repeating what others have told me so I TAKE NO CREDIT FOR WHAT WAS SAID IN THIS POST. It was really just a compilation of what others have told me.
Here's the talk Mark Hart gave to help:
Let's see... verse and song, that's what's missing!
Verse is easy! John 6:35:
"I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never go thirsty"
He said it, not me!
And now for the song!
From "What If" by Nichole Nordeman:
"But what if you're wrong? What if there's more?
What if there's hope you've never dreamed of hoping for?
What if You jump? Just close your eyes.
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by suprise?
What if He's more than enough?
What if it's love?"
What if there's hope you've never dreamed of hoping for?
What if You jump? Just close your eyes.
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by suprise?
What if He's more than enough?
What if it's love?"
What if?
I think I'll write more on the Eucharist soon. There's so much that needs to be said!
Two in one day! Man! Hope they're good!
Until next time, God Bless!
~Wanted~
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