How does knowing that I stand in a line of so many believers increase my desire for the Eucharist?

The next time you approach a tabernacle, place yourself in the line, twenty centuries long, of men, women, children, of all races, all nations, all states of life, all manner of ability, all socioeconomic backgrounds... those who lived good lives, and those who were powerful sinners.. all who have made the same track first made by those three wise men so long ago. No sacrifice will be too large or too small to separate you from the Eucharist. “Fall in love, and you will not leave him. “

-- St. Jose Maria Escriva, The Way, 999

Answer

Knowing that you stand in a line of countless believers can deeply enhance your desire for the Eucharist in several ways:

• Sense of Community and Tradition: Realizing that you are part of a long-standing tradition can give you a profound sense of belonging. This connection to the past generations of believers who have received the Eucharist underscores the timeless nature of the sacrament, making it feel more sacred and essential.
• Shared Spiritual Journey: When you consider the multitude of saints, mystics, and ordinary faithful who have experienced the Eucharist as a source of strength, comfort, and union with Christ, it can inspire you to seek that same profound connection. Their experiences and testimonies can make the Eucharist seem more accessible and desirable as a personal encounter with Jesus.
• Strength in Numbers: The collective faith of so many can bolster your own faith. There's a comforting reassurance in knowing that you're not alone in your spiritual journey; you are part of a vast community across history that has found solace, nourishment, and transformation through the Eucharist.
• Motivation for Personal Growth: Understanding this lineage can also motivate you to deepen your own spiritual practice. If the Eucharist has been central to the spiritual lives of so many, it encourages you to explore and embrace it more fully in your own life, seeing it as a vital part of your personal spiritual development.
• Anticipation of Unity: The Eucharist is not just a personal encounter but also a communal one, where all believers are united in Christ. Knowing you share this moment with all believers, past and present, can increase your desire to partake in the Eucharist as an act of unity with this universal body of Christ.

This collective experience can heighten your anticipation and reverence for the Eucharist, seeing it not just as a ritual but as a living connection to the divine through the community of faith.