Our Sunday readings continue the theme of the Eucharist. I never thought that I'd see so many articles in the news about the Eucharist, but we are living in a different time. Several parishioners have told me that they are bothered by what they have read. All I can say is the press is the press and they make their living reporting sensational things. In my opinion the Eucharist is sensational but usually not for the same reasons as the press. To have the Body and Blood of Christ in our tabernacle as the real presence of God is sensational. It is even more sensational that Jesus gives us himself as food for our journey in life. Do I hear you saying "Amen"?
In our first reading today we have the Prophet Elijah sitting beneath a tree saying "This is enough, O Lord! Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers." Instead God sends him an angel with food and water for his journey to continue his role as a Prophet. And he goes on. In today's Gospel Jesus continues to talk about himself as the bread of life. "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." Jesus is talking about his death on the cross as well as the Blessed Sacrament of his Body and Blood. That is why we refer to the altar table as an altar and a table. It is an altar for the sacrifice on the cross and a table for the bread and wine of the Last Supper. In our second reading St. Paul tells us the consequences of all this: "All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ." What a great way to live!
We continue having our Sunday Masses at 8:15 and 10:30 AM. Once again due to the resurgence of COVID-19, please stay home if you are ill. You can certainly wear a mask to Mass as recommended by the CDC in small places with many people. We should continue to pray for an end to the pandemic. The 10:30 Mass is still recorded and put on our webpage in the early afternoon. The Soup Kitchen is still open MWF. Once again we are looking for more volunteers. The soup and sandwiches are still handed out the door due to the virus. Our St. Vincent de Paul still brings aid to the needy. I am still considering bids on fixing the rain leaks in the basement foundation.
School is starting or has already started for many of our children. Please, pray for their safety. Let us also pray for all who work with them as well. Remember to stop for school buses when they are stopped picking up and dropping off students.