Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of
Christ. It is a fancy and long title in
which one can easily lose interest or lose one’s train of thought. There can be no doubt, that this is a mystical
and joyous celebration of Christ entering our lives in a very real and profound
manner, especially in the Eucharist. This
celebration, however, is far more than just a recognition of Christ in the Eucharist.
In many ways, the solemnity we live
today is one in which we are reminded once again of God’s immense and
everlasting love for each and every one of us. And in the Eucharist, we are shown once again
the power that God’s transformative love has in our lives. Think about it, in the very simple gifts of
bread and wine, Christ is revealed to us! In the very simple gifts we bring, we
encounter God, we encounter Him who is our salvation, Him who is our very life!
As we come together, this year, however,
I cannot help but bring to mind some of the challenges that we are facing in
our society today. In many ways, the
different dilemmas that we are facing today, are blatant proclamations attempting
to convince us that we are human beings are nothing more than one vote, one
choice, one this, one that. More and
more, we are being told that this very real presence of Christ can be Him or
not depending on what safeguards our sensibilities, and worse, today, as the
dark cloud of the HHS mandate looms over us, we are being told by the
government itself just when and where we can believe. Thinking about this, also reminds me of our
many brothers and sisters who in their own ways have given up their very lives
for the defense of Christ present in the Eucharist, and it calls me to an
honest reflection of who I am, and in what I believe. No!
This is not just a cookie and wine!
No! This is not just something
that happens in Church! No! You will not tell me what is moral and what
is not! Truth is not optional and life
is not a choice! Life is precisely what
the Eucharist is, Christ! And in our
daily journeys we are called to live so as to become our prayer, so as to
become what we believe, so as to become Him in whom we believe. Only then, will the world know who Christ is,
because after having received His Most Holy Body and Blood, we bring Him into
the world, beyond our churches and there, His Truth, His Life and His Love will
prevail, even in the face of those who long ago turned away! God bless you
and as always, know that I love you. Fr. Rick
