Holy Thursday Homily

There are seven sacraments and each of them find their origin in Christ Jesus. Tonight we place our focus upon Christ’s gift to the Church which is the Most Holy Eucharist. You will notice that today’s Mass prayers state that tonight He took into His holy and venerable Hands bread and wine saying “this is my Body” and “this is my Blood do this in remembrance of me.” This statement draws our minds towards what takes place on Holy Thursday as we come to commemorate the Lord’s supper.

When a Jew celebrates the Passover meal it is understood that they are not simply recreating a moment of time from the past. Rather, they are entering into that very moment where time stands still. Therefore, they do this in remembrance of what took place. So too we do this in remembrance of what the Lord did when He gathered with His apostles on this solemn night. What we do at each Mass is to be taken to the point in time of His Passion where time continues to stand still.

Following this Mass there will be the opportunity to spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. This heralds back to those words spoken in the garden, “Could you not stay watch with me for one hour?” The Lord continues to invite us into relationship with Him. Let us take up this invitation and develop such a relationship where we allow Him to remain at the center of our life. With the Lord at life’s center we are called to be sent forth to share what we have received with others. Let us enkindle such a relationship with Him always remembering the important of what takes place here at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Good Friday Homily

Today we commemorate the Lord’s Passion. It was on this day that Christ poured forth His Most Precious Blood from the cross in order that we may be redeemed. If we go back to Egypt, at the time of the Passover, we would hear commanded by Moses: “Sacrifice a lamb without blemish and sprinkle its blood on your doors.” This blood foreshadows the blood that Christ spilled upon the cross. It was for this reason that the angel of death would pass over the home of the faithful marked with this blood.

So too we have been marked by the pouring forth of this  blood. Christ has claimed each of us as His own through His sacrificial offering upon the cross. We have been redeemed through His Most Precious Blood. Our sins came to be paid for through His own blood. So often images of Christ crucified have been cleaned up, but may we not forget those five wounds: His Hands, His Feet, and His side. From each of these five wounds poured forth this blood.

Very soon we will have the opportunity to silently venerate the cross. In doing so let us remember each of these wounds and the blood which poured forth from them. Let grow in our love and appreciation for all that Christ has done for us. From these wounds may we desire to turn away from sin and be moved towards His infinite mercy. We now come to anticipate the hope of His Resurrection, but in doing so may we always come to adore the cross and all that has been worked for us upon it.

In the words of Saint Catherine of Siena: “Precious Blood, ocean of divine mercy: Flow upon us! Precious Blood, most pure offering: Procure us every grace! Precious Blood, hope and refuge of sinners: Atone for us! Precious Blood, delight of holy souls: Draw us! Amen.”

Holy Thursday Homily

Today we celebrate Holy Thursday where we commemorate Christ’s gift to the Church which is the Most Holy Eucharist. We must remember that this sacrificial meal was not just a meal between friends, but instead finds its context in the Passover meal. It was at Passover where the angel of death passed over the homes of the Israelites who had marked their doors with the blood of the sacrificial lamb. To commemorate this day they gather to have the Passover meal.

Therefore, what Christ does is most profound because it brought something which was observed to its fulfillment. For each of us the Eucharist is most important, not only this day, but each and every time that the Holy Mass is offered. It is at the Mass that time stands still as we join with our Blessed Lord at His Sacrifice at Calvary.

We have many priorities in this life, but nothing can be more important then God and thus Christ who is present with us Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Most Holy Eucharist. So often we forget why this gift is so important as we rush out the door and move onto the issues of this world separated from Christ. Wherever we go we must bring the Eucharist with us in the ways in which we act and order our life.

As was seen in today’s Gospel there is a call to service from this sacrament as is seen in the washing of the disciple’s feet. Likewise, each of us is to act accordingly when we behold this most wondrous of Gifts. We cannot rush out the door and forget what we behold, but instead must allow what we behold to bring about change within us.

St. Cyril of Alexandria stated: “The Eucharist heals the maladies of the soul. It strengthens it against temptation.” And the more often you receive Communion lovingly and reverently, the more good Jesus can do in your soul!”

Holy Thursday Homily

On this Holy Thursday we celebrate with great joy two realities: we celebrate the fact that Christ instituted the priesthood and the fact that Christ instituted the Eucharist.

One element of our faith which is most important is that of the Most Holy Eucharist. Sadly, there are many throughout the world who have now fasted from this sacrament for some time. Nevertheless, it is my hope that during this period of fast we have grown in our trust and appreciation for the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. May we never allow ourself to take the gift of the Eucharist for granted.

It has been uplifting in these days to see so many souls who have desired in their heart to receive our Blessed Lord again. Whenever I walk into the church I always find someone deeply in prayer before the Eucharist. To those who cannot be present for this period of prayer I know that there are many who make spiritual communions throughout the day and allow their mind and heart to make a visit to the tabernacle to dwell there with Christ our Lord.

On this evening we commemorate the Lord’s Supper. If you have paid close attention you would realize that the tabernacle is currently empty. At the Eucaristic Prayer you would also realize a change of a few words from their normal format. All of this is to reflect the reality that this IS the night that our Lord took into bread and wine in His holy and venerable Hands and said “this is my Body” “this is my Blood.” “Do this in remeberance of me.”

We therefore join with them in this reality. Very soon they would face the trials of our Lord’s death upon the cross. From these trials they would be filled with fear. Nevertheless, our Blessed Lord gave them this great gift as He continues to give us this great gift. In the midst of all of our our fears, hardships, and crosses we must remember and be consoled by this great gift. Through the hands of His priests the Eucharist continues to be made manifest for each of us.

Holy Week Letter

We have now entered into Holy Week and Easter is just about upon us. I invite your family to celebrate these solemn days with our parish. We will live stream all of these important liturgies to our Facebook page and make it available on YouTube after. Our schedule is as follows:

Holy Thursday Mass, April 9th at 6pm
Good Friday service, April 10th at 3pm
Easter Vigil Mass, April 11th at 8:30pm
Easter Mass in English, April 12th at 8am
Easter Mass in Spanish, April 12th at 10am

Throughout the week we are keeping the doors of the church open for prayer from 8am-8pm. During Holy Week we will follow this schedule concerning being open for private prayer:

April 9th from 8am-5:30pm and from 7:30pm-12am
April 10th from 8am-2:30pm and 4:30-8pm
April 11th from 8am-8pm
April 12th from 12pm-8pm

The sacrament of confession will not be available at 1:30pm on Easter Sunday. Also, please keep in mind that you can schedule a confession by appointment by calling the parish office.

I hope that you and your family have a blessed Holy Week and Easter.

In Christ,
Fr. Dustin Collins