Finding My Way Home: The Eucharist drew me back [Johnnie Bernhard]

Finding My Way Home

The Eucharist drew me back.

By: Johnnie Bernhard

I was baptized in the Catholic Church as an infant. My family later left the Church, and it took me fifty years to find my way home. Through all those years, I never forgot the peace I found in the Eucharist.

Even as a practicing Protestant most of my adult life, I continued to search out Catholic churches wherever I lived, hiding in a pew in the back of the church, always a spectator, always longing to recapture the peace I found in the Eucharist.

I could never really put into words why I continued to seek the Eucharist. I was too afraid, unsure of my reasons for being there. It took me almost a lifetime to understand those reasons, with the only true explanation being that the Holy Spirit worked through many people to lead me home.

My Protestant family initially thought that my return to the Catholic Church was due to a mid-life crisis. But for me, it was part of a spiritual journey, a tremendous shedding of my ego and my fear of living as God’s child. At one point, I clearly remember thinking, It doesn’t matter what people say. This is between God and me.

My husband of thirty years, a Methodist since birth, never once questioned me, but simply walked hand and hand with me to Mass. Quiet and unassuming was his love for me. That support and love served as a daily reminder of Christ’s commandment for us, “Love one another, as I love you (John 15:12).”

My brother, a man of deep faith, did question my return to the Catholic Church. He and I were raised in a Bible-centered home. Our mother was a humble woman of tremendous faith who served the Baptist Church in our community until the day she died.

And so, my brother wondered. Was I was returning to the Catholic Church because people were nice to me there? Was it because it was so close to my house? I uttered one word to him—peace. That ended his confusion, because as a Christian, he understood the peace found in Christ. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid (John 14:27).”

My brother attended my Confirmation. He gave me a rosary as a gift. He was happy for me, as were my husband and adult children. This journey led me to live Christ’s love with new friendships, restored relationships, and countless blessings.

Perhaps the greatest blessing was the marriage of my daughter, also a recent convert.
On a beautiful September morning in an ancient Catholic Church in Ireland, my daughter was married to a kind, faith-filled man. To participate in the nuptial Mass by carrying the Eucharistic gifts, the body and blood of Christ, was a tremendous honor for me.

God’s grace continues to abound in my life through the extraordinary friendships I have made in RCIA and Cursillo. I can’t remember how these friendships were initiated, but it doesn’t matter. I recall, though, how the parish priest began coming to our home unannounced for tea. After several months I realized that he asked for nothing; he had no hidden agenda. He was offering me his friendship through the love of Christ. It is very natural for me to call him Father, as it is for my family who welcomes him once a week in our home. He continues to support our daily lives with prayers, Scripture, and friendship.

I am not a perfect Christian. I falter many days, and I struggle with the tremendous burden of being all too human in an imperfect world, but I know that each week, I am called to receive God’s gifts in the Eucharist. The gift of the Eucharist, as well as his gifts of forgiveness and peace, is for all of us. They are a balm to my soul. I have found my way home.

Although I appreciate your comments and explanations, we already know that arguing with a Roman Catholic over what they consider to be THE proof of their claim to be the ONE true church Jesus established because of the "Eucharist", is a lost cause. There are some here who have posted threads EVERY day on the topic as if repetition will make everyone finally agree. They will not accept that genuine Christians can disagree on this - as many did among the early church fathers - and will stubbornly refuse to consider that we could even BE Christians if we aren't also faithful Roman Catholics. Some will consign us all to hell unless we turn to their church before we die. Everything you have explained here has been done hundreds of times before and it makes no difference to the ones who will turn around tomorrow and post the same things as if you never said a word.

Of course, you should post as the Lord leads you. I would never think to tell you not to and some response should be given lest they imagine Free Republic is all "theirs". It's just that we should be wary of threads like this especially on a slow Saturday night - as they are intentionally provocative, hoping to reignite counter responses and arguments. It is NOT done to simply encourage each other - they have their Caucus for that.

So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

How can someone be "guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord" if it's only a symbol?

BTW, what was Jesus doing running around implementing more *symbols* anyway? The Old Covenant was full of *symbols*; the New Covenant was promised to be better.

Finally, please note that God was especially present in the Temple in Jerusalem, according to Jewish belief. Are you telling me that Jesus took away the Temple, and replaced it with a mere symbol?

You ought to expect better from God. He loves you more than that.

"Guess you and salvation and all catholics believe He is also a vine and a door as well??"

When He said "I am the door/.../I am the vine, you are the branches..." etc, he was clearly speaking metaphorically as the structure of the text is completely different. He didn't indicate a door or a vine and say "this actual, physical object is MY BODY." Furthermore, in the case of John 10:6, the text of scripture states "He used this figure of speech..." Clearly, this was a parable.

He stated on multiple occasions on the other hand, that you must eat the Flesh and drink the Blood to be saved, and many walked away because of it. And at the last supper He took physical objects into His hands and stated that these things have become His Flesh and Blood. Consider the context as well. He was not preaching, He was partaking of the Last Supper with his disciples. On the night He was betrayed, do you suppose He would tell another parable, or do think His words at such a time would hold much, much greater significance, as the context and structure of the scripture suggest?

” Context is always the key in proper Biblical understanding.”

Context as lead by the Holy Spirit. In either case, you don't read something into the text that isn't there. I beg to differ. The key is the Holy Spirit, who Christ promised to His Church, to guide them in their understanding. He did not tell them to get it from a book, and he did not tell them that “understanding” would be a spiritual free-for-all. One Holy Spirit, One Church, One Truth.

So, what the Church teaches comes directly from God, not from some self-appointed Biblical “teacher”. And the Church teaches that the Host is the real Body and Blood of Christ, not a symbol.

The RCC has not been consistent on their teachings throughout history either.

The other assumption, you and other catholics make regarding the early church fathers, is that they were all in one accord on their perspective on every theological issue. For starters they weren't all in agreement on which books of the Bible we should have. So why should i take their word on other topics due to their inconsistency. Got news for you on their consistency...they were not. So if you're building your house on shaky sand you know what happens.

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