The Power of The Eucharist - A True Life Testimony from Fr. Maneesh of Thamarassery Diocese, India…
Fr Maneesh was ordained as a Priest in the Year 2002. His Mother was very sickly for a long time and often used to get severe stomach pain. Just a few days before the ordination she became very serious and had to be taken to the city hospital for treatment. On further investigations, it was found that she had a huge tumor in her stomach. The doctor advised immediate surgery as only after surgery they could send it for biopsy to ascertain whether it was malignant. However his Mother objected to the surgery saying, “Doctor, the greatest dream I had, is of my son getting ordained. I have waited all these years and now finally the day has arrived. I want to attend my son’s ordination. Just two more weeks for the ordination – after that you can take me for the surgery.” So on the day of the ordination, the Mother was brought from the city hospital in an ambulance so that she could attend her son’s ordination. She sat on a wheelchair and attended the ordination and her son’s first Holy Mass. Her son, Father Maneesh offered his first Holy Mass for the health of his mother. Praying for her complete healing after the surgery. Immediately after the Ordination and First Holy Mass was over she was taken back to the hospital. Father Maneesh spent his first night as a Priest in the hospital next to his Mother. The surgery was scheduled the following day. Just before the surgery she was taken for the ultrasound and other tests. When the surgeon looked at the ultrasound report she questioned the nurse, “are you sure you have brought the right patient for surgery?” “According to this report, there is no tumor in her.” Till today Fr Maneesh has both the reports with him – in one report it shows there is a tumor and the other report it shows no tumor. What happened in between both those reports is that she attended her son’s Ordination and first Mass and received the Eucharist. At that first Eucharist, Fr Maneesh with all the faith in his heart, offered it for his Mother’s healing. His Mother to prayed with deep trust in the Eucharistic Lord. And it was the Eucharist that healed his Mother. Years later, his Mother is perfectly well. She never had to undergo a surgery for any tumor and is a living testimony of the power of the Eucharist. When Pope John Paul II was celebrating the 50th Anniversary – the Golden Jubilee of his Priesthood, he said, “in the span of 50 years of my Priesthood, what is still the most sacred and precious moment of my life is the celebration of the Eucharist. Holy Mass is the absolute center of my life.” When John Paul II was celebrating 50th Anniversary of his Priesthood, he was already a Pope. He travelled across the world, visited many world leaders. A man deeply loved by the world. And yet, the most important moment of his life – was the celebration of the Eucharist! Bishop Dominic Tang was a Chinese Arch Bishop who was put in prison for 21 years because of his faith. He was in a windowless, dump cell for 21 long years. After 5 years of solitary confinement, the jailer opened the door to his cell. For the first time in 5 years Bishop Dominic Tang saw light. First time in 5 years he saw another human being. The jailer came with some good news. The good news was that he was being given freedom for a few hours. He was given the freedom to choose what he would do with those hours. Think for a moment. If you were put in prison for 5 long years and suddenly you were given freedom for a few hours and given a choice what would you do? These days, so many are forced into quarantine. Just 14 days of confinement and by 3rd or 4th day you already hear people say, they are feeling like it is living hell. Here after 5 years of imprisonment Bishop Tang was asked to choose what he would do. If you were in his place what would you ask? A shower? Change of clothes? Would you ask to take a long walk? Or call a close family member? But Bishop Tang asked only for one thing, “He said, “I would like to celebrate the Holy Eucharist.” When we face sickness or our loved ones are unwell, we run from pillar to post searching for cure, searching for healing. Let us remember the power of the Eucharist and the love of God poured out for us in the body and blood of Jesus that brings us healing and deliverance. If we understand and embrace the power of the Eucharist, we will experience the healing touch of the Lord in every Holy Mass. Jesus said, “I Am the Bread of Life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” – John 6:35 Let us thank and praise God for the gift of His healing presence in the Eucharist. Most of us cannot receive the Eucharist Sacramentally at present, but if we attend the online Holy Mass and unite ourselves to Jesus inviting Him to come to us Spiritually, we will surely experience His Divine Presence. Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg>
