There can't be many places, families or people that are not acquainted with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). What started off from two friends helping each other to stay sober has grown into a worldwide movement. At these meetings, everything is totally predictable, except for first time members. The exact same things get said over and over again. So, why do people go to AA? Because if you don't, you know for sure that you will start drinking again. In a strange way there are parallels between Eucharist and AA. We need to meet in Eucharist to stay spiritually alive. They tell of one Bishop who would respond to those who announced they stopped going to Eucharist with a "tell me your secret, how do you live without the Eucharist?"

We live today largely at the realm of feeling. I love you as you are, for the moment - conditional. But there are truths worth telling. Any relationship is sustained not primarily through novelty, titillation and high emotion but through rhythm and routine, namely, through simple, predictable, ritual processes. Like an A.A. meeting, a relationship, like Eucharist.

We go to the Eucharist to stay alive. The Eucharist is meant to be God's regular nourishment for us, daily manna to keep us alive within the desert of our lives.

"I am the living bread which has come down from heaven." (Gospel)

(Comments to Tom at tomascox@eircom.net )