Corpus Christi Homily

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ also known to us as Corpus Christi.

The Eucharist is central to our belief because the Eucharist is not just a representation of Christ, but is the very presence of Christ made manifest among us under the appearances of bread and wine. Through the words of consecration the bread and wine truly becomes the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ.

Such a statement should make us consider how we react when it pertains to the Eucharist. To be in the presence of the Eucharist is to be in the presence of Christ. To receive the Eucharist is to receive Christ. There ought to be attentionality when it pertains to us and our relationship to Christ and His presence made manifest among us.

If I were to drop a consecrated host or even a particle of it to the ground there are some who would not flinch and care. If I were to drop a baby that I was holding there all of a sudden would be a lot of concern at what has transpired and rightfully so. We must have such concern when it pertains to the Eucharist and our reception of it. What we are receiving is truly most serious.

Saint Paul instructs of such seriousness by stating “Whoever, therefore, eats the breads or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.”

Therefore, if it has been a long time since your last confession make use of this sacrament of the Father’s mercy for it goes hand in hand with our reception of Holy Communion. As the Catechism states, “Communion with the Body and Blood of Christ increases the communicants union with the Lord, forgives his venial sins, and preserves him from grave sins.”

What we receive strengthens us in the midst of our daily life as we are sent into the abundant harvest of the Lord. To think of the great gift that we receive when we receive Holy Communion. At this moment we have allowed the Lord to enter in under our roof. What an intimate statement that is more important then a celebrity, a sporting event, or a television show. This is Jesus who has communed with us!

At the Last Supper we should notice that it was Judas who was the first to leave. Why are we sometimes in such a hurry to leave Mass after the reception of Holy Communion that we fail to make time for a prayer of thanksgiving and fail to receive the blessing of Christ which sends us forth from the midst of this place? I agree that it might be convenient to beat the rush out of here, but I promise that making time for Christ is much greater.

As Gandhi stated, “I would like to believe what you Catholics believe about Jesus in the Eucharist. But I am unable to do so, because I don’t think you Catholics really believe what you say you believe; because if I really believed that my Lord and my God were truly present in the tabernacle as you say He is, I would crawl on my belly to church every day and worship Him.”

Trinity Sunday Homily

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.

The Trinity is central to our Christian belief. It is the proclamation of one God in three persons. It is a mystery which is difficult for the mind to grasp and thus has often been explained through the use of various analogies which always fall short and more often then not fall into some type of heresy.

Nevertheless, the Trinity is a proclamation of love. There is a lot that we “love” be it a sport’s team, a type of food, a television program, or an individual. In English we are lacking of a proper expression of love. When I speak of the love that exists within the Trinity I am speaking of a love which is much deeper then what one has for the Volunteers or pizza.

In other languages we have different words which negate the type of love that is being mentioned. In Latin the greatest form of love is “caritas.” It is from this word “caritas” that we get the word charity. Such a love is mutual, perfect, and flowing over. This type of love gives entirely of itself and asks for nothing in return.

The Trinity is the greatest expression of such a love. Through the three Persons that make up the Trinity we have a love which is perfect, mutual, and flowing over. The Father’s love for the Son is so great a love that from it is begotten another, the Holy Spirit. These three Persons of the one Godhead have existed for all time and remain important for us in this day and age.

Marriages should strive to be modeled after such an outpouring of love. Through marriage one is entering into something much deeper then a love that can be thrown away when it no longer seems important. Through marriage the couple strive to enter into this love of the Trinity growing in such love day by day through the gift of God’s grace.

The Most Holy Trinity assists us no matter where we may be because the Trinity is the hallmark of how we ought to live as a community. We must strive to enter into such a manifest outpouring of love and share what we receive with others. It is impossible for us to give from that which we do not yet possess and so we must be willing to enter into the love of the Trinity.

Let the Most Holy Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit be the guide upon which we build our faith and grow in our commitment to true love which is given entirely of self asking for nothing in return. It is the lack of such love present in our world that we see the many issues that surround us. The love of the Trinity becomes the beacon to which we must place our sight.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirt, as it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

Pentecost Homily

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost.

Pentecost is celebrated each year 50 days after the celebration of Easter. It was here that the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles as they were gathered together in prayer. Through this interaction with the Holy Spirit they were empowered in being sent forth throughout the world to spread the message of the Gospel.

This celebration of Pentecost brings to fulfillment that which was instituted by God in the Old Testament through Moses. Therefore, 50 days following the observance of Passover Jews would observe the Feast of Weeks. Seeing that this falls on the fiftieth day this celebration is known as Pentecost in Greek.

Pentecost was a time of joy and celebration for those of the Jewish faith. What was being celebrated was the giving of the of the Law to Israel through the use of Moses. During this time of prayer they would gather the first fruits of the harvest in order that they may be offered unto God.

Christ becomes this first fruit for us as for the Jew this first fruit was what was offered at the Passover. It is He who died upon the cross and through His glorious Resurrection we have been set free. From 1st Corinthians we are told, “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

Through our celebration of Pentecost we are reminded that we have received a wondrous gift in the form of the Holy Spirit. We must do something with the gifts that have been extended to us by God. What has taken place is not the completion of the harvest because we must first remain good and faithful servants of the Lord.

The celebration of Pentecost was a glorious day, but the apostles could not stay locked up inside of a room. They instead received such a wondrous gift which brought them out into the world to bring forth the faith to all of its corners. This task would not always come easily as can be seen especially in the reality of the martyrs who shed their blood out of love for Christ.

Through the receiving of such a gift we are to be reminded that the Holy Spirit is our advocate and there nothing that impossible for us for the the Lord has laid down His life upon the cross, Has risen on the third day, and now the Holy Spirit has gone down upon us like a strong driving wind.

May this celebration of Pentecost be fruitful for us in stirring us out of our slumber and into the abundant harvest of the Lord. Send forth your Spirit O Lord and you shall renew the face of the earth.

Ascension Homily

Today we celebrate the External Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.

This celebration marks the completion of Jesus’ mission. He came, taking on our human flesh, and in the midst of His public ministry would teach and heal. Later, He came to suffer as He died upon the cross and on the third day rose again. Following His resurrection He returned to His Father in Heaven which signals that His saving work has been done.

Through His returning to Heaven He came to open that way in order that we may come to follow after Him. As He stated in the Gospel of Saint John, “I am going to prepare a place for you.” Through elevating our sight to where He has now gone before we are able to see that the hope of eternal life is possible for us.

Even though His saving work has been accomplished and a dwelling place has been made ready for us in Heaven the Mission continues. After all the apostles were told, “to go and make disciples of all nations.” They could not just sit idly by as if there was nothing else which needed to be done.

Following the Ascension the apostles would gather in prayer in preparation for the gift that would come upon them at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit. Through the receiving of such a gift they were strengthened on this mission in order that they may live the faith extended to them and to spread it throughout the world no matter the temptation or hardship that was set before them.

We too must come look towards such a reality of hope. Through such a glimpse we are given all that we are needed to endure until the end from Christ. He has already triumphed upon the wood of the cross in order that we may be redeemed. There is nothing that we can add to this saving act that has been offered.

Nevertheless, we cannot just sit idly by as if there is nothing for us to now do with this gift that has been given unto us. We must be willing to look towards Heaven and everything that we do should be done as by someone who strives to get there with the assistance of God’s grace. How often do we lose sight of such a goal in order to get caught up in worldly pursuits?

Living such a life a sanctity might seem to be difficult, but we must remember that is possible. Through prayer and the sacramental life of the Church we are strengthened in this race towards the Heavenly Kingdom. Let us not take our sight off of the Pearl of Great Price, but dare to continue to look to where the Lord has now gone before.

The Lord has now gone to Heaven and He will come again. Let us be found ready to encounter Him with joy at His coming.