Live the Eucharist

Carrying Our Cross: Embracing Christ’s Call to Follow

/ chicoinematt

A reflection on the Gospel of Luke 14:25-33

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Let us give our LORD God thanks, praise, and glory for sending us His only beloved Son, Jesus. Through the Holy Spirit, we acknowledge Christ’s living presence among us as we gather in prayer this hour. Jesus—our Teacher, Mentor, and Best Friend—is here right now, listening to our words and thoughts, walking with us through every joy and struggle, always loving us and drawing us closer to God.

Imagine yourself sitting beside the Lord, leaning in as He speaks words that pierce right to the heart: “My son, my daughter, I love you so very much and am always with you. Come and follow me, and together our hearts shall become one; one with our Father in heaven, united with the Holy Spirit.” This is the invitation Jesus offers every time we meet Him—whether in prayer, in adoration, or reflected in the faces of those around us. He calls us to a relationship where He comes first, a relationship that transforms us from the inside out.

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The Way Up Is Down: Humility, Grace, and the Heart of Christ  

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A Reflection on the Gospel of Luke 14: 1, 7-14 

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Today, as we gather in the presence of our Lord Jesus—our Teacher, our Master, and our very Best Friend—let’s do something that’s actually pretty simple but surprisingly hard: let’s just sit with Him. Imagine Him right next to you. Not far off, not just a story in a book, but close. Quiet. Gentle. Listen for the voice that speaks to your heart, the one that says, “My son, my daughter, I love you so very much and am always with you. Come and follow me on the path of righteousness—loving our Father in heaven wholly, and loving those around us as I love you. And together, our hearts shall become one; one with our LORD God and with the Holy Spirit.” 

The Gospel’s Upside-Down Wisdom: Humility, Mercy, and God’s True Economy   

In today’s Gospel from Luke, chapter 14, Jesus gives us a warning and a promise. He says, in effect, “The way up is down. If you want real glory, don’t chase it. Be humble. Love others.” And He doesn’t just say this—He lives it. The Holy Spirit draws us into the very shape of Jesus’ own life: His humility, His suffering, His rising again. It’s right there at the center of the Gospel: if you want to be free, if you want to be blessed, put others ahead of yourself. 

Picture the scene. Jesus is at a fancy dinner thrown by a Pharisee. Everyone’s jostling for the best seats, hoping to be noticed, to be important. Jesus watches this and tells them a story that flips everything. Don’t try to grab the seat of honor. Take the lowest place. If you belong higher, you’ll be called up—and you won’t have to be embarrassed. “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” It’s simple, but it’s the opposite of how we’re wired. 

Then Jesus goes further. He says, “Don’t invite people who can pay you back. Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” And He promises a different kind of reward: “You will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” What does this mean? It means God’s kingdom runs on a different economy than ours. It’s not about keeping score. It’s about mercy. About giving without keeping track. 

The Paschal Mystery: Christ’s Humility, Self-Emptying Love, and the Grace of the New Covenant 

Let’s tie this to the heart of our faith—the Paschal Mystery. That’s the passion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. The whole thing is about self-emptying love. Humility wasn’t just something Jesus taught. It was something He lived all the way to the cross. As Paul writes in Philippians, “Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.” 

The cross is the lowest place. Jesus goes there for us, for people who could never pay Him back. And because of this, the Father raises Him up. That’s the pattern: humble service leads to real glory. Not just for Jesus, but for us, if we follow Him. 

This is the New Covenant. It’s not a business deal with God—“I do good, God rewards me.” It’s about grace. We don’t earn our spot at God’s table; we’re invited because He loves us. And we’re called to treat others the same way. Invite, serve, love—especially those who can’t give us anything in return. 

Living Humility Day by Day: Trusting the Spirit and Serving Like Jesus 

So, what does this look like in real life? First, ask for the Holy Spirit’s help. We can’t do this on our own. Ask the Spirit to make us more like Jesus, to help us live and love as He did. Practice humility—listen before you speak, serve rather than be served, celebrate others’ successes. Reach out to the overlooked and the lonely, not because there’s something in it for you, but because that’s what Jesus does. Check your motives—“Am I doing this to be seen, or out of genuine love?” And trust God with your honor. Let go of needing immediate praise. God sees. He knows. 

This isn’t just about table manners. It’s about how we live, how we see ourselves, how we treat every person we meet. Jesus wants us to look at others as He does, to serve generously, expecting nothing in return. 

As we follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit shapes us. We become children of God, and we trust Him with our lives. We’re not alone. The Spirit helps us live generously and humbly—even when it isn’t easy. 

So, at a dinner where everyone wanted the best seat, Jesus flipped the script. He taught that greatness is found in choosing the lowest place. He called us to love those who can’t repay us, to welcome the poor and forgotten, to give without expecting anything back. That’s how we follow Jesus. That’s how we let the Holy Spirit make us into people who see every neighbor with God’s eyes. 

Let’s remember those words from Jesus: “I love you, my son. I love you, my daughter. I am always with you.” Go, give praise, thanksgiving, and glory to God. Love and serve those around you, putting each person ahead of yourself, building up the Body of Christ, living in the Kingdom of heaven, and saying yes to God’s will. 

Amen. 

Amen.

About Live the Eucharist

About Our Guest Blogger

Blessed Carlo Acutis once said, “Not me, but God.” His words echo deeply in my own spiritual life. This blog is not about me, but about the work of the Holy Spirit. I choose to remain anonymous because the voice behind these reflections isn’t what matters — the One speaking through them is.

I am a lifelong Catholic with a deep love for Scripture, the sacraments, and the quiet ways God speaks through everyday life. Live the Eucharist was born from my desire to share how the Gospel and the Eucharist shape not just my Sundays, but every step of the journey.

My hope is that these reflections bless you, challenge you, and draw you closer to Jesus — truly present in the Eucharist and profoundly present in your daily life.

Thank you for sharing!

Striving for the Narrow Gate: Embracing the Daily Banquet of Christ’s Love

/ chicoinematt

Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

Reflection on the Gospel of Luke 13:22-30

My dear friends, today our Lord invites us to the banquet—not just the feast that awaits us in heaven, but a banquet that begins here and now, each day, in prayer and relationship with Him. “Come, my friends,” He says. “Come to Me with all that you carry. Come to Me with your hopes, your burdens, your questions, and your fears. I welcome you with open arms, a loving heart, and gentle words: ‘My son, my daughter, I love you so very much and am always with you. Follow me, and our hearts shall become one—with our Father in heaven and the Holy Spirit.’”

What an invitation. We’re not just guests at God’s table—we’re family. We’re called to walk with Jesus, to become one with Him, and through Him, to share in the very life of God. But there’s a catch, isn’t there? Jesus tells us to “strive to enter through the narrow gate.” The way of Jesus isn’t always the easy or obvious road—it’s the path that goes against the grain of what’s “normal” or “comfortable” in the world around us.

The Urgent Call: Strive for the Narrow Gate

Today’s Gospel from Luke 13 is a wake-up call. Jesus is on the road to Jerusalem, on His way to the cross—a journey that will end with His Passion, death, and resurrection. Someone in the crowd asks, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” But Jesus doesn’t answer with statistics or easy assurances. Instead, He urges us to “strive to enter through the narrow gate.” He warns that many will try, but not all will succeed. The door will be locked for some, and those who assumed they’d be first in line may find themselves outside, while people from all corners of the earth join the prophets in God’s kingdom. “Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

What does this mean for us? It means that salvation isn’t automatic. Living in God’s love is a relationship, a journey, a lifelong “yes” to the narrow way of Jesus—the way opened by His suffering, death, and resurrection. It’s not about checking off a list of rules or being born into the right family; it’s about loving God deeply, loving our neighbor as Jesus loves us, and saying “yes” to Him every day, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

The “narrow gate” isn’t a test of physical strength, but of the heart. It’s about following Jesus, especially when it’s hard. It means dying to self, embracing sacrifice, and trusting in God’s love. It means choosing forgiveness when we’d rather hold a grudge, loving when it’s inconvenient, and putting others first. The narrow way calls us to honesty, humility, and generosity—not for show, but because our hearts are being shaped and transformed by Jesus.

Strength for the Journey: Relying on the Holy Spirit When the Narrow Gate Feels Impossible

Let’s be honest—sometimes the narrow gate feels impossible. Life is busy and complicated. We have jobs, families, worries, struggles. Maybe someone here is carrying a hidden burden—sickness, loneliness, fear about the future. Maybe you feel like you don’t have what it takes to follow Jesus down this narrow road.

But here’s the good news: we’re not alone. Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit—to empower, guide, and transform us. The Spirit gives us the grace we need to forgive, to be generous, to trust God’s ways,

and to persevere through difficulty. The Spirit keeps us close to Jesus, helps us hear His voice, and gives us courage to say “yes” to the narrow way, even when we’re tired or afraid.

Jesus warns us not to settle for empty familiarity—knowing about Him, but not really knowing Him. Instead, He invites us to a relationship that changes us from the inside out. That’s how we become part of His family—the people who truly “recline at table in the Kingdom of God.”

Living the Narrow Way: Everyday Choices That Reflect God’s Love

Living the narrow way isn’t about being perfect. It’s not about following rules for their own sake. It’s about living honestly and courageously as children of God, letting His love flow through us to the people around us. It’s forgiving when it’s hard, telling the truth even when it costs us, noticing the overlooked, standing up for the vulnerable, practicing generosity, and doing the right thing even when no one else sees.

The narrow way asks us to love people who are difficult to love, to carve out time for God in the middle of busy days, to resist letting material things define our worth, to admit when we’re wrong and seek forgiveness, and to trust God when life feels uncertain or out of control. None of this comes naturally. But these choices—made again and again—are what following Jesus really looks like.

So, as we hear Jesus’ words today, let’s remember His invitation: “Come, my friends, to the banquet with our Lord Jesus each day in prayer.” Let’s strive to walk the narrow way, not with fear, but with hope and love, knowing that Jesus is with us every step of the way. Let’s trust in the Spirit’s help, and let’s live the Gospel boldly—loving, serving, and giving praise and glory to God in all we do.

And when we stumble, let’s remember Jesus’ gentle words: “I love you, my son. I love you, my daughter. I am always with you.” May we go out today with love in our hearts, ready to serve those around us as Jesus serves us all.

Amen.

About Live the Eucharist

About Our Guest Blogger

Blessed Carlo Acutis once said, “Not me, but God.” His words echo deeply in my own spiritual life. This blog is not about me, but about the work of the Holy Spirit. I choose to remain anonymous because the voice behind these reflections isn’t what matters — the One speaking through them is.

I am a lifelong Catholic with a deep love for Scripture, the sacraments, and the quiet ways God speaks through everyday life. Live the Eucharist was born from my desire to share how the Gospel and the Eucharist shape not just my Sundays, but every step of the journey.

My hope is that these reflections bless you, challenge you, and draw you closer to Jesus — truly present in the Eucharist and profoundly present in your daily life.

Thank you for sharing!

Set Ablaze: Living the Paschal Mystery Through Christ’s Fire

/ chicoinematt

Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

Reflection on the Gospel of Luke 12:49-53

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

As we gather here today, we come as we are—some of us hopeful, some weighed down, all of us in need of God’s grace. And as we turn our hearts to prayer, we remember: Jesus is here with us. He listens to the silent words we can’t quite speak, the tangled concerns and quiet requests we carry. In this holy space, the Lord leans close and whispers, “I love you, my son. I love you, my daughter. I am always with you. Come—be with me, that our hearts may be one; one with our Father in heaven, united by the Holy Spirit.” Those words aren’t just comfort; they’re an invitation. If we listen, they set something stirring inside us—a fire, gentle but fierce.

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Living Ready: Faithfulness, Light, and the Unexpected Hour 

/ chicoinematt

Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

 A reflection on the Gospel of Luke 25:35-40 

My Brothers and Sisters, 

As we gather in prayer today, we find ourselves sitting beside our Lord Jesus – unafraid to open our hearts and share everything: our joys, our struggles, our plans, our prayers. In this sacred dialogue, if we listen closely, we hear His gentle voice: “My son, my daughter, I love you so very much and am always with you. Come and be with me, and together our hearts shall become one; one with our Father in heaven and the Holy Spirit.” These words don’t just comfort us—they remind us of God’s generosity, and they point to something even bigger: great things are in store for those who are ready and faithful. 

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Martha, Mary, and the Heart of Discipleship: Putting God First

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

 A Gospel Reflection on Luke 10:38–42

My dear friends in Christ,

As we gather here today, surrounded by the gentle presence of our Lord Jesus, I invite you to settle your hearts and simply listen; not just with your ears, but with the quiet spaces inside you where God loves to whisper. Today we reflect on a Gospel that feels almost like a scene from our own lives: Luke 10:38–42, the story of Martha and Mary.

Welcoming Jesus: The Home of Martha and Mary Comes Alive

Picture it. Jesus comes to visit Martha, Mary, and Lazarus in their home near Jerusalem; a home filled with love, laughter, and, on this day, a little bit of tension. Martha is hustling, doing all the things a good host does: cooking, cleaning, making sure everything is just right for their honored guest. Meanwhile, Mary sits at the feet of Jesus, soaking in every word. And Martha, overwhelmed and maybe feeling a little alone in her service, finally speaks up: “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me.”

If you’re anything like me, you’ve felt like Martha before. Maybe more often than you’d like to admit. There’s always something that needs doing: at home, at work, in our families, even in our parishes. The world demands so much from us. But Jesus, with a gentleness that cuts right through the noise, answers: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things, but there is only one thing that matters. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken from her.”

This isn’t Jesus scolding Martha, or telling us to stop working, or to ignore our responsibilities. Far from it. Jesus is inviting Martha – inviting all of us – to step out of our anxious busyness and into the peace of his presence. He’s saying, “Let me be your center. Let me be your peace. Come, sit with me; let your heart rest in me.”

Two Coins, Two Priorities: Choosing Between the World and God

St. Ignatius of Antioch wrote about two “coinages”: one of God, one of the world; each stamped with a different image, a different set of priorities. The question for us is simple, but not easy: When we look at our own lives, which coin do we spend? Which side do we show the world? Is our life marked by frantic activity, or by a deep trust that God’s love is enough?

The truth is, we are called to be both Martha and Mary. We are called to serve, to work, to love our families and our neighbors. But before all that, we are called to be with Jesus. To listen. To pray. To let ourselves be loved by God so that everything we do flows from that love. Because when we put God first, when we let the Holy Spirit fill our hearts, our work becomes more than just busyness; it becomes worship.

And why do we place God first? Because of what Jesus has done for us in the Paschal Mystery: his suffering, death, and resurrection. Through his sacrifice, he opened the way for us to be reconciled with our Father, to receive forgiveness, and to share in the very life of God. Every time we sit at Jesus’ feet in prayer, every time we choose love over anxiety, we are living out the gift of new life he won for us. It’s not just our own strength that lets us choose the better part – it’s Christ living in us, through the Holy Spirit, because of the cross and the empty tomb.

Turning to the Holy Spirit: Finding Strength and Peace in Daily Choices

How do we do this? We start by asking the Holy Spirit for help. We ask for the grace to put God first, to let him shape our priorities, our days, our hearts. And when we stumble – and we all do – we remember that God’s mercy is endless. There’s always a place for us at Jesus’ feet.

Every day is a new chance to choose “the better part.” It might be as simple as a moment of silence before the day begins. A whispered prayer in the car. A few verses of Scripture before bed. Or, if you’re overwhelmed, maybe just a deep breath and a simple, “Jesus, I need you.” Every act of turning toward Jesus, no matter how small, draws us closer to the heart of God.

And here’s the real miracle: When we let ourselves rest in Jesus, we find that we are not alone in our work. He works with us. He gives us the strength to serve, to love, to carry the burdens of life with a peace the world can’t give. And he invites us to share that peace with everyone we meet.

Living the Invitation: Carrying Christ’s Love into the World

So today, as we go out into the world, let’s remember Jesus’ invitation: “I love you, my son. I love you, my daughter. Come, be by my side. Let our hearts become one.” Let’s choose the better part. Let’s place our trust in God, and let his love flow from us: in our work, in our families, in every act of kindness and service.

May we be a people marked not by anxiety, but by love. Not by busyness, but by presence. And may we always remember: Jesus is with us, now and always, loving us into the fullness of life.

Amen.

About Live the Eucharist

About Our Guest Blogger

Blessed Carlo Acutis once said, “Not me, but God.” His words echo deeply in my own spiritual life. This blog is not about me, but about the work of the Holy Spirit. I choose to remain anonymous because the voice behind these reflections isn’t what matters — the One speaking through them is.

I am a lifelong Catholic with a deep love for Scripture, the sacraments, and the quiet ways God speaks through everyday life. Live the Eucharist was born from my desire to share how the Gospel and the Eucharist shape not just my Sundays, but every step of the journey.

My hope is that these reflections bless you, challenge you, and draw you closer to Jesus — truly present in the Eucharist and profoundly present in your daily life.

Thank you for sharing!

Mercy Without Limits: The Good Samaritan and the Heart of the Paschal Mystery

/ chicoinematt

Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

 A Gospel Reflection on Luke 10:25-37

Today, as we gather in prayer and quiet reflection, I invite you to listen; not just with your ears, but with your hearts—to the words of Jesus, spoken gently to each one of us: “My son, my daughter, I love you so very much and am always with you. Come and be by my side, and together our hearts shall be one; one with our Father in heaven and united with the Holy Spirit.”

These aren’t just words for comfort. They’re an invitation. An invitation to relationship, to unity, and to a love that doesn’t just fill us up, but spills out into the world around us. And nowhere does Jesus make that more practical, more concrete, than in the parable we hear today: the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

Who Is My Neighbor? The Scholar’s Question and Jesus’ Challenge

In Luke’s Gospel, a scholar asks Jesus what must be done to inherit eternal life. As He often does, Jesus answers with another question: “What is written in the law?” The scholar recites the great Commandments: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus commends him, but the scholar, wanting to justify himself, presses further: “And who is my neighbor?”

That’s the question that cracks everything open. Not “What should I do?” but “Who counts? Where do I draw the line?” It’s a question that tries to limit love, to keep it manageable. But Jesus won’t let us off that easily. He tells a story that blows up all our categories.

The Samaritan’s Mercy: Love That Crosses Boundaries and Exceeds Expectations

You know how it goes: a man is beaten, robbed, and left for dead. Two respected religious men; a priest and a Levite – pass by. They see the man, but for whatever reason: fear, ritual purity, inconvenience – they cross to the other side. Then comes a Samaritan: a stranger, even an enemy in the eyes of Jesus’ audience. And he’s the one moved by compassion. He stops, tends the man’s wounds, carries him to safety, and pays for his care. Not just the bare minimum, but more than anyone could expect.

What’s striking here isn’t just who helps, but how he helps. The Samaritan doesn’t ask if the man is worthy, or if he’s the right kind of person. He sees need, and his heart responds. Mercy, not calculation. Compassion, not qualifications. In this, Jesus shows us what it means to truly love our neighbor: to cross boundaries, to take risks, to put love into action.

Becoming a Neighbor: Moving from the Right Answer to a Life Shaped by Mercy

And so, Jesus flips the scholar’s question around. It’s not “Who is my neighbor?” but “How can I be a neighbor?” The difference is everything. We’re not called to pick and choose who is deserving. We’re called to become people whose hearts are shaped by mercy, whose lives overflow with the love we ourselves have received from God.

But let’s be honest: this isn’t always easy. It’s one thing to know the words: “Love your neighbor as yourself”; and another thing entirely to live them, especially when loving means inconvenience, sacrifice, or stepping outside our comfort zones. The scholar in the Gospel had the right answer in his mind, but it hadn’t yet made its way to his heart, or from his heart to his hands.

Transformed by Love: Letting God Shape Our Hearts and Build His Kingdom Through Us

That’s where grace comes in. The love the Father pours into our hearts through Jesus and the Holy Spirit isn’t meant to stay locked up inside. It’s meant to flow outward. And this love is made visible in the Paschal Mystery. Through the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God shows us the deepest mercy; a mercy that reaches us even in our brokenness and lifts us up to new life. In the cross and the empty tomb, we see the true cost and the true power of compassion. Jesus did not pass us by in our suffering; He became our neighbor, carrying our wounds, healing us, and opening the way to eternal life.

When we ask God to help us love as He loves, His Spirit begins to change us. He softens our hearts, opens our eyes, and gives us the courage to act. Through prayer, the Sacraments – especially the Eucharist, where we encounter the living Christ who gave Himself for us: through acts of charity and forgiveness, we are drawn closer to Jesus. And as we draw near to Him, we begin to see Him in every person we meet.

When that happens, living the new covenant isn’t just about reciting commandments. It’s about letting God’s love move us from the inside out: so much so that it becomes natural to serve, to forgive, to show mercy, to be a neighbor to anyone in need.

This is how the Kingdom of God grows: not by drawing lines, but by building bridges. Not by asking “who counts?” but by counting everyone in. Every act of mercy, every step towards another in love, builds up the Body of Christ.

So let’s return to those words of Jesus: “I love you, my son, my daughter, and am always with you.” Let them sink in. Let them change you. And then, go out: overflowing with that love; to give praise, thanksgiving, and glory to our Father in heaven, and to love those around you as He loves you.

Amen.

About Live the Eucharist

About Our Guest Blogger

Blessed Carlo Acutis once said, “Not me, but God.” His words echo deeply in my own spiritual life. This blog is not about me, but about the work of the Holy Spirit. I choose to remain anonymous because the voice behind these reflections isn’t what matters — the One speaking through them is.

I am a lifelong Catholic with a deep love for Scripture, the sacraments, and the quiet ways God speaks through everyday life. Live the Eucharist was born from my desire to share how the Gospel and the Eucharist shape not just my Sundays, but every step of the journey.

My hope is that these reflections bless you, challenge you, and draw you closer to Jesus — truly present in the Eucharist and profoundly present in your daily life.

Thank you for sharing!