Jesus gives us today the two great commandments, the first of which is “you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Mt. 22:37). This is daunting. We have enough difficulty loving our neighbors even half as much as we should, so how can we possibly love God with every atom of our being? Even if we follow the advice of St. Bernard from yesterday, and meditate over the Passion and Resurrection, there is the danger that they seem like past events, with little relevance for today. We need an experience of God’s love that is available to us today.
We may experience God’s love here and now through the Eucharist. This was the key insight of St. Pius X, and why he promoted reception of the Eucharist so strongly during his papacy, going so far as to lower the age of first communion and encourage regular reception of the Eucharist. The Eucharist reminds us that the Lord gives Himself to us completely and freely each day of our lives. It shows us that Jesus gives His whole self to us, no strings attached. Love is always easier as a response than something we initiate. Through the Eucharist, we experience firsthand the depths of God’s love, and are inspired to love God worthily.