When I first moved to New York City in 2006, I asked a longtime resident if the luster and excitement of Manhattan ever fades. After some thought, she looked at me and said, “You get used to it, but the mystery and magic never goes away.”

In this week’s 3-Minute Retreat, we explore our relationship with the Eucharist and I couldn't help reflect on the luster and excitement of it. I’ve been experiencing the Eucharist for over twenty years now, consuming it each Sunday. The wonder and awe of transubstantiation, becoming closer with Jesus, has never lost that excitement for me. It is my breathtaking Grand Central Station, the inspiring ornateness of the Chrysler Building, my immensely impressive Lady Liberty.

Every time I walk down the aisle in church, I am hopeful, ready, and immediately grace-filled when I receive Communion. Yes, I have gotten used to it (like I had the monuments of New York), but the experience is still incredibly transformative and touching. It reminds me of all that is important, why I live my life, and pushes me to be better. Are you still excited for the Eucharist? Has it faded? Something to think about in the next 3 minutes...