Mt 5:17-19 Teach me, O God!

I had an interesting experience with a man recently who assured me that I didn't need to follow what the Church teaches or understand fully who we receive in the Blessed Eucharist, as long as I believe in Jesus: that trough His Divine Mercy I shall be saved.    He apparently has been telling others who have no religious affiliation this same message and encouraging them to come to mass and receive the Eucharist.  It made me unsure of myself and wonder if the Church had changed part of what it teaches.  What to do in a situation like this?  I sought a priest.  It is what we ought to do in situations like this unless we are sure of ourselves. 

Today's readings, both the first reading, which is about Elijah showing the people that God is Lord of all; that the pagan god Baal was nothing; and the blessing of the stones representing  the people of the twelve tribes whom he called Israel as part of his altar in order to reconsecrate them to God, and the Gospel reading, we visualize very clearly how God choses particular anointed ones to speak to and lead the people to Truth. In the first reading it was Elijah, and in the Gospel it is Jesus.  We are not all prophets, and when we speak, we ought to be careful if we are instructing. 

Jesus said, "I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law..."  We must be careful when we teach and know what it is our Church teaches.  Our priests study so long to be good servants of God so they can serve us in this regard.  Our Deacon and catechists likewise are trained and continue their own educations in our shared faith order to teach it. 

It is good for all of us to read about our faith, to discern it, and share it.  Together we are the Body of Christ.  Together we teach each other and keep each other faithful.  May we always have the courage to seek out those who have been appointed when we have questions about our faith so that we may continue to grow and be challenged in it, growing ever closer to our Father.  Amen.

Luke 9:11 B-17 Feast of Corpus Christi

When the Body of Christ is presented to us, we respond, "Amen," meaning, 'I belive.'
When the Blood of Christ is presented to us, we respond, "Amen," I believe. 

The bread and wine we receive at mass is not a symbol, but rather the Lord God himself through the thin veil of bread and wine.  

We can learn much from the children who come to the Banquet of the Lord for their First communions.  Let us be like the children who believe in absolute faith and trust.  Amen.

John 6:1-15 Loaves and Fishes

In this first reading we again have the Apostles and other disciples preaching.  Recall that the Sanhedrin was putting them on trial with the possibility of death.  The Apostles and disciples had therefore been in jail and mysteriously released, but we know it was due to heavenly visitors.  Gamaliel was a Doctor of the Law, head of an important rabbinic school, and member of the Sanhedrin.   In recognition of God’s intervention for the Jewish people throughout their covenant, Gamaliel recognizes that God may be present here too.  He argued that they Apostles should not be harmed saying, “have nothing to do with these men, and let them go.  For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself.  But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.”  That which is of human origin will ultimately parish, but that which is from God will endure.

Truth endures forever.  The Apostles, the martyrs, and we seek the Lord, our Truth, and our refuge, for the Lord is our Light and Our Salvation.  Did he not teach us about heavenly things?  Does he not feed us with what we need to nourish ourselves? 

In today’s Gospel Jesus sits with the others and the crowds.  These are the people who walked to where he is currently, which the Lord crossed the waters in a boat with the Apostles.  The crowds had followed him seeking relief from their pains, anxieties, and sicknesses. His words ease their pains, and his heavenly touch and presence cures their ills.  Asking Philip and Andrew if there is enough food for all, he is told no. 

It is springtime.  The Passover is near, and they are with the Lamb.  The loaves and fish are distributed and it is a miracle, everyone receives and an abundance remains.  This is true of the grace and blessings of this feast with the Lord, then and now.  The Lord invites those seeking him into his company and provides nourishment at his banquet, providing the food himself through the Spirit. 

It is the same way at Holy Communion when the Lord invites us to his table.  Every time we receive the Holy Eucharist the Lords blessings and abundant graces are poured out for us.  Christ Jesus is our Paschal lamb.  We are still within the Easter season celebrating his death and Resurrection.  Matthew tells us, “One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” 

Christ came not only to nourish us with bread and wine, but to feed us with himself: that is the Word of God.  The loaves and fishes are a foreshadowing of what happens in the breaking of the bread at mass.  The Holy Eucharist is Christ himself under the species of bread and wine.  The receiving of the host during the Sacrament of Communion is the outward and visible sign of that inward and divine spiritual gift, which is God himself.  May we always love the Blessed Eucharist for what it is, and learn to love being with Christ, the Pascal Lamb and the newness of life which he gives us through his death and Resurrection.  Amen.