Corpus Christi Greetings with two homilies
Confraternity of Penitents
In effect, we are talking about creating a “community of life,” whether of individuals or a nation. The Mosaic Covenant was the creation of a new community of life, a bond between the Israelites and the Life-Giver, Yahweh. This bonding ritual was ratified by sprinkling the blood of sacrificed animals on the people. Our ancestors understood this ritual, which was a part of their culture, so it would not have been an unpleasant experience for them.
But Jesus gave us a New Covenant at the Last Supper (Mark 14:22-24). This ritual also created a “community of life” and it was ratified when Jesus sacrificed his own body and shed his own blood for our redemption. Those who believe in the Real Presence recognize and understand by faith that in this new way, Jesus is giving us new life. It looks like bread and wine to our senses, but it is truly the precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in sacramental form.
Especially on Sundays we are invited to renew our bonding ritual, the New Covenant, by receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus and uniting ourselves to him at this sacrificial meal (CCC #1331). By celebrating this Eucharist, we give thanks to God for his works of creation, redemption, and sanctification (CCC #1328). -- Deacon Joseph Pasquella
A Reflection on Mark 14: 22-24
“During the meal, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. ‘Take this,’ he said, ‘’this is my body.’ He likewise took the cup, gave thanks and passed it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, ‘this is my blood, the blood of the covenant to be poured out on behalf of many.’” (Mark 14: 22-24)
Why bother coming to Mass? Mass is boring after all. I’d rather talk to God in my own way and not have the Church put words in my mouth. I like sleeping in on Sundays. I work hard all week. I stay out late Saturday’s. No one else in my family goes to Mass, so I have no one to remind me.
Over my now twelve years of priesthood these are all actual excuses I’ve heard for people missing Mass, and they all have one thing in common. They’re all lame.
So why should I go to Mass?
First of all because Jesus told us too. At the Last Supper Jesus says, “This is my body. Take it! Eat it!” In the scriptures the word Jesus uses for body is sarx. It’s a Greek word. It literally means a hunk of meat. There were other words Jesus could have used. But whenever Jesus makes reference to the Eucharist he always uses words that are very graphic, because he doesn’t want his disciples to think he’s speaking symbolically. “Here! This is my blood! Take it! Drink it!” DO THIS in remembrance of me.” We’ve been commanded. Take and eat. Take and drink. Do this. We’ve been given an executive order by the CEO. This is not something you want to take lightly or ignore.
That reason alone should be good enough, but there are better reasons than that.
The second reason we come to Mass is to remember, because we have an amazing tendency to forget. Spiritually speaking, most of us have Alzheimer’s. We constantly forget what God has told us. History has shown this. We constantly forget so we need a constant reminder. So Jesus said at the Last Supper, “Do this in emembrance of me.”
And Jesus, in this, meant more than a memorial. When we come to Mass we remember what Jesus said and did in the gospels. We remember salvation history in the Old Testament readings. We remember the teachings of the Church in the homily. We remember that we are loved by God. And we remember that we are called to become like God by loving one another.
And that’s the third reason why we should be coming to Mass; to experience God’s love. Before God makes the covenant with Abraham he calls him to sacrifice his son Isaac to him. And Abraham is ready to do it. Because all the pagan gods of that region demanded people sacrifice their children to them. Baal, Moloch, Apis, Mammom. They all demanded people sacrifice, one of their children. So when God demands this of Abraham, it must not have come as a big surprise. “Oh well, I guess he’s just like all the other gods.” But before Abraham can follow through, God stops him. God stops him, because he doesn’t want Abraham to prove his love by sacrificing his only son; rather God is going to prove his love for creation by sacrificing HIS only son. That’s the greatness of God’s love.
God proves his love for us at Mass by allowing us to enter into that sacrifice of his only beloved son, over, and over, and over again.
What if I stood up here and said, “Next week, I’m going to give a million dollars to every one who comes to Mass.” Do you think anyone would miss Mass next week? People would be flying in from around the country to get to Mass! People would delay their vacations, skip the softball game, and God forbid, get to the beach a little later next Sunday because everyone would want to cash in on that million dollars. (Funny thing, when you put a dollar value on it, the excuses for missing Mass really do seem absurd!) “WHAT! You’d pass up a million dollars because you feel like sleeping in?! Are you insane?!” But we get more than a million dollars every time we come to Mass!
When we come to Mass we receive unity with the all loving God of creation.
In John’s gospel, right before the last supper begins, Jesus says, “I have greatly desired to be here with you for this Passover.” And he says the same to us. Jesus greatly desires to celebrate this Passover with each of us. Jesus greatly desires to touch us. Jesus greatly desires to be close to us. Jesus greatly desires intimacy with us, and that’s accomplished through the Mass.
That leads into the fourth reason we should come to Mass; we come to experience his love so we ourselves can become better lovers! That’s what the Mass is for! To make us better lovers! We come to Mass to receive his life, but we also come to give him ours, so God can continue loving the world through us.
Jesus told us to do many things, but he only used the actual word commandment, once; and he attached it to this statement. “This is my commandment, love one another as I have loved you.”
And Jesus loved us to death. Jesus loved us sacrificially. We come to Mass to learn how to love, and how to love sacrificially.
Jesus made this statement right after he was done washing his apostle’s feet. Why’d he do that? Because in the days of sandals and dirt roads your feet were the dirtiest, grimiest, smelliest part of your body. That’s where Jesus went first, to clean that up, as an example of sacrificial love for the others to follow. And Jesus still does it. How does Mass begin?
With the penitential rite. Jesus goes to our dirtiest part and cleans it. We place our sins before God and our VENIAL sins are forgiven. That’s a teaching of the Church. Venial sins are forgiven during Mass. Mortal sins we still have to go to confession for.
But we come here to learn how to love. How do people distinguish that we’re Christian? It’s not by how many religious medals we have on, or scapulars, or statues in our houses. Not by the plastic rosary on the rear view mirror or the plastic Jesus on the dashboard. Jesus says in another passage, “All will know that you are my disciples by the love you show one another.” That’s how people should be able to identify us! By our love! And we find that love here, and we learn how to love here through the Eucharist.
Father Dale Fusick, the founder of “Life Teen,” once told a story of when he was first ordained, and he was invited to a home where a teenage son announced he was leaving the Church. So Father Dale went to dinner, and after dinner everyone left the table, leaving Father Dale with this eighteen year old boy.
And the boy said, “I guess you’re here for me, huh?”
And Father Dale said, “Yes. So what’s the problem? Do you not believe in the real presence in the Eucharist?”
The boy responded, “I believe that.”
Father Dale continued, “Well what is it then? Do you not believe in the authority of the Pope?”
The boy responded, “I believe that too.”
“Well, is it the intercession of the Blessed Mother?”
The boy said, “No.”
So Father Dale said, “Well what is it? Why do you want to leave the Church?”
And the young man said, “Father, I’ve gone to Church for eighteen years, and never once did I feel loved there.” Oh, what an indictment!
“They will know you are my disciples by the love you show one another.”
Let me ask you, would people know, just by watching you, that you are one of his disciples? Are you using the Eucharist to grow in love? Ask yourself, would someone want to become Catholic because of me? If the answer to that is ‘no,’ you’ve got some work to do.
I’ll give you a good way to start. John was called the beloved disciple. It was John who laid his head on Jesus’ chest at the Last Supper. The next time, after you receive communion, after you receive the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ, go back to your seat, close your eyes, tilt your head back as if you were resting it on Jesus’ chest and listen. Don’t say anything. If you must say something, say, “Speak Lord for your servant is listening.” That’s what the prophets used to say.
These days not nearly enough people say “Speak Lord for your servant is listening,” because too many people are saying, “Shut up, God. I’m talking.” But sit there and listen, and don’t be surprised if you hear the God of the universe saying to you, “I love you. I love you. I love you.”
We all need to learn how to love. So learn from the best. And that is why we should come to Mass.
And blessed be God forever.
--Father Michael Anthony Sisco