Dear Parishioners:
As we continue to reflect on the
Eucharist and on our practice of the Catholic Faith in these times of rejection
of Faith and pervasive public secularism, it is important for us to realize
something central: the Holy Eucharist is
not a “thing.” It IS the very Person of
Jesus as He gives Himself to us. Jesus IS
the Bread of Life. To receive Him means
to welcome Him into our hearts and into our lives. He is not a quiet guest. Nor is He passive. Once we let Him in, He will hound us until He
gets all of us. If you are not ready to
allow Him free rein as Lord in your life, it is best to head for the hills….
Jesus speaks His Word and he invites
and expects us to hear Him. When we hear
Him, we become capable of more than we have been before. He feeds our minds and hearts as well as our
bodies. What we take into ourselves
takes on a life of its own in us. When
an idea is God’s idea, it is creative.
It is strengthening. It is
nourishing in every way. And it leads us
to relate to the world differently that we have before.
This is a message that the world
around us needs to hear. It is the Truth
that the world needs to see and experience in real persons who believe. Faith is not something for the weak, but rather
is the sign of strength and of an openness to a Wisdom that comes from
above. Who are the weak ones – those who
set aside their Faith, the Faith that has been shared with them by the Church,
in order to conform to the culture of our time, or those who are willing to
reach for something greater than the world can offer? Faith in the Eucharist calls for a full
commitment.
We are called to be a community of
Welcome. First, we welcome God among us
in the Person of Jesus Christ. Then, we
extend that welcome to others by our whole life, by what we say, what we do,
and how we live. Hospitality is the
hallmark of a community that understands the Eucharist. How are
you responding to the call to be a faithful disciple of the Lord Jesus, the Bread of Life?
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