Living the Eucharist. These words should be very familiar to us by now, because we have heard them in the parish announcements for the past month. "Living the Eucharist" is the name that was rightly given to this year's bishop's appeal. This title shows the reality of our devotion, our unity, and our charity that is all centered upon Christ present in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Saint Augustine expresses this most beautifully by exclaiming: "O sacrament of devotion! O sign of unity! O bond of charity!"
We are still in the midst of the celebration of our diocese's twenty-fifth anniversary. We began this celebration by showing how the Church is something more then this little parish community here in Oak Ridge. This was shown through the first Eucharistic Congress of our diocese where the unity that is expressed in the Holy Eucharist was shown through conferences, through the liturgy, and through the many people who gathered from around this diocese to become one through the Eucharist. Here today we continue this celebration in a most special way because in our presence are two icons of the patrons of our diocese, the Blessed Mother and Blessed John Paul II. Saint Mary's life continuously shows her true devotion for her Son and Blessed John Paul II was able to live the words of the Second Vatican Council by allowing the Eucharist to become the source and summit of his faith. Attached to these icons is a plenary indulgence which I hope all of you will take advantage of. The obtaining of this indulgence is very simple because all that one has to do to obtain it is pray an "Our Father" and a "Hail Mary" for Pope Francis while in this Church with these icons, one must also receive Holy Communion, and finally one must make use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. These three things should be a practice that any Catholic has already developed in their life because of the unity that is found through living the Eucharist and the response that it calls us to give in return.
The 2014 bishop's appeal entitled "Living the Eucharist" sums up the wideness of charity that comes when we receive our Lord into our lives. This appeal also reminds us of the reality that we are more then this little parish, but instead are only a small piece that exists inside of the unity that is found within the Church as realized through the Holy Eucharist. Each of the six areas where funds will be allotted will help to build up the Kingdom of God not only here in Oak Ridge, but throughout the Knoxville diocese. Funds will be given for clergy and seminarian education which as we all know will at some point in time effect this Church community. It is through the hands of our priests that we receive Christ present in the Holy Eucharist into our lives. Without priests we would not have the Eucharist. Secondly, funds will go to support Catholic Charities which serves those in need through many services that are offered; even some who might belong to this parish community. To receive Christ into our lives demands as Pope Francis has reminded us time and time again to take care of the less fortunate in this world. These funds also help to give aid to programs such as RCIA, Catholic schools (which all of us should know the importance of), and religious education. May we especially remember to pray for those in RCIA because the season of Easter is coming quickly and thus they will receive Jesus Christ present in the Most Holy Eucharist into their lives for the first time. Youth, young adult, and campus ministry will also be aided through this appeal which will make sure that the Eucharist is able to remain central in the lives of our many young people especially those who are in college. Health services ministry is a new category added this year which will again show our need to respond with spiritual care and healing to those who are in need. Finally, this appeal will aid efforts of justice and peace which ensures that we continue to bring the voice of the Eucharist into the world to become the voice of the many moral issues that plague society.
As we speak about "Living the Eucharist" I hope that we can see that the Eucharist is something that demands a response of love from us. This was shown in the devotion of our first Eucharistic Congress, it is shown through the charity that is displayed in the bishop's appeal, and is shown in the lives of the saints especially our patrons who lived out the unity of the Eucharist by their daily turning away from sin. If the Eucharist is to be lived it therefore must be alive. If then our relationship to the Eucharist has been killed we will be unable to live the Eucharist in our lives. The Church still teaches this as mortal sin which truly effects our relationship with the Eucharist. To receive Christ present in the Eucharist while in the state of mortal sin would be equal to attempting to feed a dead body food. Food can never help a dead body to live and the person who receives the Eucharist in the state of mortal sin can receive nothing in return except for another mortal sin.
All of today's readings point towards our need to turn away from our own sinfulness and to always trust in the great mercy of God. Our Gospel especially tackles some serious issues which in our modern world has been overlooked because we want to reason away sin and it's grasp inside of our life. We can look to polls of Catholics who time and time again are confused concerning Church doctrine, the reality of sin, and the fact that Christ is truly present inside of the Eucharist. Cohabitation prior to marriage has become the norm for society which has reasoned away the need for the Sacrament of Marriage. Many marriages have been attempted outside of the Church and thus people have excluded themselves from the life of the Eucharist. Contraception has become accepted by many which again causes many to kill their relationship with Christ present in the Holy Eucharist. If we truly believe that Christ is alive in the Eucharist we will cast away these sins and all those present in our life, so that we to may be alive through our living out of the Eucharist.
When we receive Christ this day may we not do so under the serious effects of mortal sin, but through our trust in the mercy of God that we have received through the Sacrament of Confession. In this manner we will truly be able to live the Eucharist. We will then be able to exclaim with Saint Augustine: "O sacrament of devotion! O sign of unity! O bond of charity!"
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