Dearest Eucharist Family, We will be sharing in the Sacred Triduum this coming Holy Week, 2022. Tomorrow is Palm Sunday; we imagine being with Jesus as he enters Jerusalem, palms waving, our Lord carried by a donkey; He is entering into his death. Jesus loves us more than life on earth; He dies to bring us to the heavens. Have you ever suffered with someone? I am sure you have and can recall the love, sacrifice, and charity offered that relieved some of the pain in the situation. Have you stood at the foot of the Cross with another, loved someone in their suffering? Perhaps a friend or family member in agony of pain, physically, mentally, spiritually? Have you suffered such pain and been consoled by a compassionate, loving soul? I believe we have all given and received in this respect and some to greater or lesser degrees. Whatever capacity we have offered to lighten the pain brings forth love in our world. Our mother, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady of the Cenacle, is one to emulate. In his perfect plan, God Our Father gave His only begotten Son a mother. Jesus’s submission to Our Father’s will was ideally one in Mary’s fiat, “Let it be done to me” (Luke 1:37-38). They journeyed together to the Cross, Jesus, and Mary, His pain, her pain. Mary’s Immaculate Heart pierced, yet she suffered with her beloved one, her Son, Jesus. Our hearts are pierced by many things, each carrying the Cross that will bring us to salvation. In our care, concern, and love for others, we see outside of ourselves into the entire Body of Christ. In the Eucharist, the suffering of the whole world is revealed. The inner cenacle of our souls sees a vast horizon of weakness and strengths, visions of goodness revealed in our quest to walk with another. On Holy Thursday, the Apostles were not to be found; fear and self-interest led them astray.
Let us be attentive, let us check in with our neighbors, family, and friends to the best of our ability, and when our time is spent, let us do the most important, let us pray for them. To my heart, some very dear people have suffered betrayal in marriage, sickness, and death. The immense pain brings us to the Cross, praying on our knees for those we love. The mystery of human fragility in which we live is changed in charity; love breaks through to the divine life, strengthening our humanity. The concupiscence of original sin can only be overcome by God’s grace. Our Lady’s tears are for the world, for God’s children. Her suffering was second to the pain she felt for others, the pain she endured with her Son in his Passion and Death. Mary’s love triumphs over sin and death. Easter day is coming. In the Eucharist, we rise in this life, out of ourselves into the divine life and love for others. Have a blessed and grace-filled Holy Week.
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 One day, I sat with my computer and began to write what I thought would be a reflection for this blog. My heart and mind, acting as one, poured words into my hands and onto the page, and, for a little while, words flowed effortlessly. But then, just as swiftly as they had begun, they stopped. Something in my heart told me… it was done. I looked at what I had written; something was different. Rather than an essay, which is the form I usually use to express my thoughts, this looked like a poem. There were stanzas, and there was rhyme. When I read it, I really liked it. It was a prayer from deep inside. A song for my beloved, a piece of my heart. But then came the question I always have to ask myself, should I share this with everyone? I knew deep down that this was not meant to be just for me, but doubts came over me. How could this be? I am not a poet. I do not even know if there are rules that should be followed. What if it is all wrong? A year and a half went by. One day, looking for something to write about, I came upon the saved file. I read it again, and I still liked it. It was still true; it was still fresh. Then came the question again… I wanted to share this, but the thought of putting this “out there” made me very uncomfortable. So I took that to prayer. I realized that I was feeling vulnerable. This time I was not sharing a story, even a deeply personal one; I was not sharing my thoughts. This time, in sharing a poem, I would be sharing my heart. And that scared me. What if it was mocked, spat upon, rejected? So, what did God do with me when I brought these questions to Him in prayer? He increased my desire to share it. It was as if He was saying, “Sing to me, my beloved. I want to hear your song.”
I would not be sharing my heart with the world. I would be letting them witness my love for God. Why? Because He asked me to… so that others may see the glory of God. A few weeks ago, He gave me enough courage to share it, and I posted it on my social media accounts. For those of you who may not have seen it yet, I share with you my poem; I share with you my song.
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AuthorsWe are Ivonne J. Hernandez, Rick Hernandez and Laura Worhacz, Lay Associates of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, and brothers and sisters in Christ. 
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