These two great saints are going to share with us a secret today. And interestingly, it is the very same secret. It's the secret to the strength they need to carry out the great things God was calling them to each day. Welcome back to our Holy Week retreat. Today's Holy Thursday. We listen first to a quote from Faustina, "I see myself so weak that if it were not for Holy Communion, I would be falling all the time. Only one thing is holding me up, and that is Holy Communion. From it, I draw strength. From it comes my power. If on any day, I cannot have a Holy Communion, I'm afraid of life. I'm afraid of myself. Jesus concealed in the communion host is everything for me. From the tabernacle, I draw strength, power, courage, light. At times of anguish, it is there that I seek comfort. I would not be able to give glory to God if I did not have the Eucharist in my heart."

That's a powerful quote. It's a powerful quote. Now, I want to read the quote from John Paul II, and then we'll reflect on both of them. But they're so interrelated today that I think it's important we have both in our mind. John Paul II wrote, "The Eucharist is the secret of my day. It gives strength and meaning to all my activities of service to the church and to the whole world. Let Jesus present in the blessed sacraments speak to your hearts. It is He who is the true answer of life that you seek. He stays here with us. He is God with us. Seek him without tiring. Welcome him without reserve. Love him without interruption, today, tomorrow, forever."

Now, I want to say something and not in a sacrilegious way. But the way Faustina and John Paul II talk about Holy Communion, very often we hear people talking about coffee like that. They talk about, "Oh, I could never get through the day without my coffee." They talk about, "Oh, by this time in the afternoon, I'd be lying on the ground. I would have no strength for anything, for anyone, if I didn't have my coffee." I'm not picking on the coffee drinkers. I love your coffee drinkers. I'm not picking on the coffee drinkers. But it's interesting to notice that, and maybe it's not coffee, other people, it's chocolate. "Oh, I couldn't live without chocolate. I can't imagine a life without chocolate." For other people, it's other things, right? Could be alcohol, could be shopping, could be anything. Okay, but we all talk about something like John Paul II and like Faustina talk about the Eucharist. And the fact that our something isn't the Eucharist is something for us to reflect upon today.

Now let's take a look at the quote one at a time. Faustina said, "I see myself as weak. That's honest. That's truth. That's reality." Okay. That's not fake humility. That's not fake anything. That's just the truth. The reality is we are weak. What does she say? I see myself as weak. If not for holy communion, I would be falling at all time. Only one thing is holding me up. I draw strength from it. From it comes my power. And then she says, "From the tabernacle, I draw strength, power, courage, light. At times of anguish, it is there that I seek comfort. Where do you seek comfort in times of anguish? Where do you seek comfort, and is it working? And maybe it's time to try something new, and Faustina's witness is an invitation. Again, these are not just words. These are antidotes to the illnesses of our age. These are antidotes to the sickness of our lives. At times of anguish it is there that I seek comfort. Next time you're experiencing that, next time you're experiencing a great anxiety or a great despair or a great anguish, find a church. Find a church that's open. Go and sit by the tabernacle. Sit before the tabernacle. Recognize your Lord and your God is present there waiting for you always. He has all the answers. He has all the mercy. He wants to give you all the answers. He wants to give you all the mercy. He wants to comfort you in your anxiety and your anguish and your despair.

He wants to comfort you. But in order to do that, we need to open our hearts to Him. We need to be with Him. To sit in His presence. And then John Paul II, Eucharist is the secret of my day. What is the secret of your day? Is it a 2nd rate secret? Is it a 3rd rate secret? Is it a 58th rate secret? John Paul II says, "Eucharist is the secret of my day. Give strength and meaning to all my activities." You feel tired, you feel worn down, you feel burnt out, do you feel overwhelmed? Maybe you need more Eucharist. Maybe you need more Eucharist. Maybe that's what's missing. Do you feel like your life has no meaning, or isn't as meaningful as it was a year ago or 10 years ago, or in some other season in your life? John Paul II says, "Eucharist is the secret of my day. It gives strength and meaning to all my activities." If you need strength, if you need meaning, you need to be comforted. What are they saying to us? Go to Jesus and the Eucharist. Go to Jesus and Eucharist. Receive the Eucharist as often as you can. Spend time in front of the Eucharist as often as you can. Have a great day. Remember, we are pilgrims of mercy.

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Eternal God.

In whom mercy is endless. And the treasury of compassion inexhaustible.

Look kindly upon us.

And increase your mercy in us. That in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent.

But with great confidence.

Submit ourselves to your holy will. Which is love and mercy itself.

Amen.

Amen. Amen.

See you tomorrow.

Thank you, Ambassadors.

You are changing the world. Have a great day. Have a great day.

Have a great day.