By Andrew Forsthoefel
The Eucharist has become my rock. Throughout the ups and downs of life, there is one thing that remains constant: God. In the Eucharist, Jesus is truly present, even though He comes to us in such a simple and humble way. It amazes me that the King of the Universe chooses to make Himself so small and so accessible to us under the appearance of bread and wine. The simplicity of the Eucharist conceals a profound mystery: God Himself desires to be with us.
My relationship with the Eucharist began to change when I was twelve years old. My first impactful experience of God's love occurred during Eucharistic Adoration in a simple chapel at Catholic Family Land. As I sat before the Blessed Sacrament, something in my heart changed. I began to see God not as some distant or random figure in the sky, but as a loving Father who desired a relationship with me personally. That encounter opened my heart to desire God in a more intimate way.
Ever since that simple encounter, I have fallen deeply in love with Eucharistic Adoration. What began as a powerful experience has gradually become a regular part of my life. I make it a priority to spend time in Adoration each week, and I have grown to love the silence and stillness of being in Christ's presence. I no longer see Adoration simply as a “good thing to do.” I see it as an encounter with a Person. Some of the best hours of my life have been spent sitting quietly before Jesus.
As I have grown older, I have also noticed how much the Eucharist has changed me. When I leave the chapel after spending time with Jesus, I feel more like the person my Creator made me to be. My capacity to love grows because I have first received the love of Christ. The more time I spend before Jesus, the more I recognize that He is teaching me how to love others with His own heart.
As a student at Franciscan University, the chapel has become an oasis for me in the middle of a world that can often feel chaotic and exhausting. I frequently read spiritual books, study, or simply sit in silence before the Blessed Sacrament. Whenever I walk into a chapel, I am reminded that I am not alone. There is a peace in the presence of Jesus that no material possession or worldly success could ever provide.
Even in high school, I was blessed to have a car that allowed me to make the ten-minute drive from work or home to visit Jesus. Knowing that I could drive to St. Max at almost any hour of the day and simply be with Jesus was an incredible gift. These moments in the chapel have taught me that the Eucharist is the answer to a lot of questions. The Eucharist is not confined to the context of the Mass. Jesus is there waiting, inviting me to come to Him in every season of my life.
The Eucharist continues to be my rock because Jesus remains faithful when all
else changes. In moments of joy, He is there. In moments of difficulty, He is there. When I feel close to Him, He is there, and when I feel distant, He is still there. The Eucharist reminds me that God's love is not dependent upon my feelings or circumstances. He simply remains.
I am extremely thankful that God humbles Himself so completely that we can
come and visit Him at any hour of the day. It brings great consolation to know that Jesus desires to love us. My greatest desire is that others might discover the same love that I encounter before the Blessed Sacrament. That the world might realize that Jesus is truly present, waiting for them, and that He desires a personal relationship with each one of us.