Holy Thursday

Today's Readings

"Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ" (cf. 1 Cor. 10:16)... "How shall I make a return to the LORD for all the good he has done for me? The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the LORD." (Psalm 116: 12-13)

This night is more special than any other night, for on this night, the angel of death has passed over us, as we unite as one people of God, fed by the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, to become disciples who feed, and care for all the world!

Tonight, the Truth of our past is played out in the Exodus story of God's people, combined with the miracle of the present, here at the Eucharistic Feast of the Lord, so as to set up the promise for the future, which is life everlasting!  

This is the beginning of the Easter Triduum, 

and this is Holy Thursday.

It is the night that we gather in communion with the Passover Meal celebrated by Christ in the Last Supper.  This "blessing cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ" (cf. 1 Cor. 10:16), and it is also a communion with our Hebrew brothers and sisters, God's chosen people, who led the way for all of us through the desert and into the promised land!  Tonight we unite with untold thousands of generations who have praised the Lord for His good deeds, and sought His cup of salvation!  Tonight, we share not only a meal, but a task calling on us to serve in the example of Jesus' Washing of the Feet, for he says, "As I have done for you, so you must do." (John 13: 15)  

So let us begin as one!  

One people of God... 

One Body in Christ!

Oh, I can't resist...

"One love, one heart... Give thanks and praise to the Lord, 

and [we] will feel alright!" (Mr. Bob Marley)

Body and Blood!

They all ate and were satisfied. (Luke 9: 17)

In my Faith today, we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, or the Body (and Blood) of Christ! This is a special day for the Faith, my Parish, my family and also myself. We concentrate on the reality that we are fed by Jesus Christ, and that He is truly present in our midst.

The quote above from Luke’s Gospel is the culmination of the “Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes”. Jesus took five loaves and two fish, and fed 5000! I’m sure it was a day like today, and I’m sure the crowd was there to see Christ, and visit with one another. But Christ also needed them to know that He was more than Word; He was food as well!

Isn’t it fitting that my Parish has its annual Summer Picnic today... I think its perfect timing and a wonderful representation of what Church is all about. We gather for Mass, then eat together as a community of faith. Add BBQ, a few moon bounces, snow cones and DJ Jazzy Greg’s Ultimate Picnic Mix, and we are the Body of Christ in action!

Happy Corpus Christi, and keep praying for the Body of Christ throughout the world, especially those who struggle this day. To our friends on the Gulf Coast, God bless you!

50 ways to Get Through Easter... Creation!

“Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” (John 6: 27)

Today’s word: Creation!

John’s Gospel begins with its own version of CREATION...

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1: 1)

For John, Christ is CREATION, and Christ is the source of all that feeds us, and nourishes our own CREATION. Christ is the Word made flesh, and it is He who says that if you eat my body and drink my blood, you will have eternal life!

After reading the above quote from John’s sixth chapter, the first thing that comes to mind is the common sign “Will Work for Food!” While this sign is synonymous with homelessness, maybe for us it could read “Will Work for REAL Food!” Maybe the lives we were CREATED to live should be about working for the goodness of God’s CREATION!

So, whatever your beginning, “this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad” (Psalm 118), and live as we were CREATED to live!

50 Ways to Get Through Easter... Consciousness!

“As the number of disciples continued to grow,... The word of God continued to spread...” (Acts 6: 1,7)

Today’s word: Consciousness!

The faith is alive and well, and many families in my area are CONSCIOUS of its presence in our midst. Today, my parish celebrated it’s First Communion with 121 2nd Graders! Sure they were cute, and they followed every direction we gave them... But most of all, they were filled with the presence of Jesus Christ for all to see! Because of the children, EVERYBODY in the Church was truly aware of the purpose of Church: We assemble as one community, singing God’s praises, fed by His Body and Blood.

If seeing is believing, then I saw Christ! If experience is everything, then I’ve seen it all! I’m CONSCIOUS today of Christ in my life, because I’ve seen Him in my midst. Try your best today to experience your faith in a way that makes God real. Look at the sky, listen to the birds, or even James Taylor... Just experience grace, and you will see!

That’s how this faith of ours grows... When the number of witnesses increases, the Word of God spreads! But that is only true if you share what you witness. Help people experience faith today in a CONSCIOUS way!