I am back, if the flights were on time. I want to thank Father Pete Logsdon, CSC, for filling in for me while I visited my family in Boston. I hope you enjoyed his homilies.
Tomorrow and August 9 are the anniversaries of the atom explosions over Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. As these events are recalled, all are urged to continue to pray for world peace and for increased efforts in favor of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.
In our first reading today from the Book of Exodus, the Israelites are in the desert and hungry. They complain against Moses but God satisfies their hunger with quail and then starts what we call the manna in the desert, a bread like substance that they gather each morning. God takes care of his people.
In today’s Gospel, the 5000 Jesus fed with 5 loaves of bread and two fish, follow him across the sea to Capernaum. Then we have an exchange between Jesus and these people. They say Moses fed the people in the desert with manna, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” Jesus concludes the discussion by stating: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” Jesus in the Eucharist is more than just food for the body.
In our second reading, St. Paul tells us what we should do when we grow close to Jesus, when we eat his body and drink his blood in the Eucharist: “You should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.” The Lord gives us bread from heaven.
Tomorrow the Church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. On Mount Tabor Jesus showed his disciples that he was divine when Moses and Elijah appeared with him and he changed his appearance. The voice from heaven called him is Beloved Son.
On Friday the Church celebrates St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr. He was burned alive on a gridiron. Tradition has it that he told his torturers, “Turn me over, I’m already done on this side.”
On Saturday, the Church celebrates Saint Claire of Assisi. She was disciple of Saint Frances and the founder of the Poor Clares
The diocese is upgrading the computer program that all the parishes use here in Fort Wayne-South Bend. This includes our computer list of parishioners as well as our recording of contributions to the parish and diocesan collections. For us to keep track of your contributions, you must be registered. We know and appreciate the many visitors we have each Sunday. Many seem to come very often but have not signed up in the parish. We are not pressuring anyone to sign up, but if you want or need a tax statement at the end of the year, we need you in our computer.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the world. Let us also pray for vocations to the church. Let us pray for the sick of the parish. Let us pray that all will come to respect life. Let us pray for one another and for the canonization of Father Tolton.
A Father Tolton Prayer:Father in Heaven, Father Tolton’s suffering service sheds light upon our sorrows; we see them through the prism of your Son’s passion and death. If it be your Will, O God, glorify your servant Father Tolton, by granting the favor I now request through his intercession (mention your request) so that all may know the goodness of this priest whose memory looms large in the Church he loved. Complete what you have begun in us that we might work for the fulfillment of your kingdom. Not to us the glory, but glory to you O God, through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are our God, living and reigning forever and ever. Amen.