There is such deep theology involving Faith and Reason regarding the Eucharist. It is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in the form of Bread and Wine as he gave it to us. He mandated we continue to do this in remembrance of him at the Last Supper. I can point to history and Revelation that give evidence of the truth of the Real Presence of the Lord. However, let us reflect on what Jesus’ presence truly means.

God brought us out of “Egypt,” out of darkness, to be his friends and not his slaves. We now know him to be loving and caring and we experience him in an intimate way in the Eucharist. God remains present to us in the Eucharist. Moreover, he wants us to give ourselves over to the Father as he did.

In his sacrifice, the Lord demonstrates how to transform pain, disappointment, fear and anger into a grace-filled moment. The Lord shows restraint in the face of the bigotry of the bullies who murder him. He disarms them with patient understanding. He knew the ones most “hands on” to his murder were likely manipulated by powers greater than they.

I have been blessed with much adversity in my life of ministry. Yes, I say blessed. The challenge of adversity has awakened me to know I am not the only one with challenges. Further, I see I am not the only one who experiences pain. Even more, I have learned to have empathy and sympathy for others who are in apparent pain. My experience makes me pause and try to understand the angst of others. If I am frustrated, who else is frustrated? Might there be some common element between us?

Acknowledging my own pain and recognizing the pain of others opens up the way to healing. Jesus healed by accepting his pain in recognition of the pain the rest of humanity experiences. Anyone who has ever had a real friend knows the shared moments of inflicting pain on the other. Regardless of the particular emotions that rise up, you discover the joy of reconciliation. In friendship, you decide to reconcile. Jesus too had to decide to overcome the hurt he was experiencing and make the ultimate sacrifice of Love in obedience to the Father. Thus, there is healing between God and humankind.

This process of understanding personal challenges and pain and the pain inflicted by others takes practice. First of all, it takes the desire and decision to confront issues that may estrange people from people. Jesus had to decide to accept “the cup” the Father gave him. Jesus does this in the Garden before the crucifixion.

Remember, Jesus said to the Father, “your will be done.” For us, it is an ongoing process of reconciliation.

I have been blessed in the past to be lovingly met by others who helped me recognize my personal pain and disappointments. Then they helped me to see their own pain. They showed me where I even contributed to their pain. In the seminary, Social Work School and in Catholic Charities, USA, those of us involved were processed to recognize our own prejudice. I had to work to recognize it in myself and work to change it. Prejudice is learned.

Prejudice can be controlled. The long-term conditioning to mistrust and even despise people who are different takes much effort to overcome.

To begin to control prejudice, start by identifying the feeling that rises up inside you. You know it. Step back a moment. Take a deep breath. Observe the other person. Look beneath the ugliness of his or her behavior and see the depth of their pain. Also, note the emotions his or her actions cause in you. I ask myself, “Why am I feeling this way? Where is this coming from? Where is the other person’s feeling coming from? How may I understand better?”

When discord rises between you and others it is possible the other person is wrong. Work it out. Yet, often matters of discord are sourced in misunderstanding. Work it out. Have courage. It is possible with effort to reconcile with your “friend”. Remember, that is what Jesus did. Let Jesus’s example guide you. He made us his friends and not his slaves.

Jesus is still with us in the Eucharist. He shows us how to be like him. Even more, Jesus gives us the grace to act like him. With his power, transform the pain, disappointment, fear and anger into a grace-filled moment. Understand yourself and the other.