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The Centrality of the Eucharist – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating
Deacon James Keating reflect on the Paschal mystery as the triumph of Christ over death and evil, not only as a past event but as a living reality. Fear of death shapes human behavior in profound ways, yet Christ’s resurrection liberates us from that fear, planting within us the “seed of the resurrection.” When we allow Christ’s life to take root in our hearts, hope becomes part of our identity, enabling us to see death as a passage into fulfillment rather than an end. This truth is made present in the Eucharist, where we receive Christ’s own obedience and love for the Father, equipping us to confront struggles, temptation, and cultural passivity with courage and vitality.
Tthe Eucharist is participation in Christ’s self-offering. By entering Mass with honesty—acknowledging our sins and weaknesses rather than hiding behind appearances—we open ourselves to transformation and strength for daily battles against sin and despair. True worship draws us into communion with God, pouring out in acts of charity toward others. Keating warns against reducing Jesus to a distant historical figure or treating Mass as a mere ritual; instead, it’s an encounter with the living Christ whose presence empowers us for holiness. The Paschal mystery calls us into a life of honesty, sacrifice, and reciprocal love, where God’s gift of himself to us moves us to give ourselves away for others.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
- How does Christ’s victory over death change the way I view my own mortality?
- In what ways do I allow fear—of death, failure, or loss—to diminish the fullness of life God desires for me?
- Do I see the Eucharist as a living encounter with Christ, or do I reduce it to a routine ritual?
- How honestly do I bring my sins and weaknesses before God when I participate in Mass?
- What prevents me from fully cooperating with God’s grace to become “fit for heaven”?
- How am I called to carry my cross daily in imitation of Christ’s obedience to the Father?
- Do I approach Mass with the desire to be transformed, or with rationalizations that hold me back?
- How can I allow God’s gift of himself in the Eucharist to bear fruit in acts of charity toward others?
- Where in my life am I tempted to seek fulfillment in “stuff” rather than in communion with the divine?
- How is the Holy Spirit inviting me to pour myself out in trust and love, as God pours himself out for me?
Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.
