Pop-Up Catechesis: The Eucharist and What We Crave

Researchers tell us that the majority of us experience regular cravings for specific foods. It’s important to remember, however, that hunger and cravings are not synonymous. The former is driven by the body, while the latter is driven by the mind. Hunger seeks to satisfy a physical need; a craving seeks to satisfy an emotional one. That’s why cravings are not limited to food. We can find ourselves craving any and all of the following: power, possessions, sex, a drink, friendship, novelty, intimacy, contentment, fun, pleasure, or adventure, just to name a few. The bottom line is that cravings seek to fulfill a sense of incompleteness. While hunger is utilitarian (for survival), cravings are for satisfaction: to fill a fundamental lack, flaw, or sense of inadequacy. Typically, our attempts to fulfill these cravings result in temporary satisfaction. Our faith tells us that, at our deepest level, we are incapable of satisfying such cravings and that God alone completes us. In this episode of Pop-Up Catechesis, we explore how the Eucharist truly satisfies the “hungry heart.”

For more information about the Eucharist, check out the following links:

• Eucharistic Revival
• A Walk Through the Mass
• Living the Mass: How One Hour a Week Can Change Your Life
• Living the Sacraments: Finding God at the Intersection of Heaven and Earth
• Pop-Up Catechesis: Practicing Real Presence
• Teaching the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist
• Real Presence in the Eucharist
• Practicing Real Presence
• Leading Others to an Experience of the Real Presence
• Forming Children and Youth for the Mass: Real Presence

And for a bit of fun, here’s “Hungry Heart” by Bruce Springsteen.

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