Today we celebrate Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. This feast used to be held on Thursday back in the day. The reason for this was to give the people another day off to honor God. There were processions in many places with the Blessed Sacrament carried to be honored by the people. Some places still have this procession. It seems to me that this honor was done because many people did not go to Communion at Mass. The Church had many rules in place that caused many people to not go to Communion at Mass. Remember the fast from midnight, both from food and water? If you forgot and had a sip of water while brushing your teeth, you broke the fast and didn’t go to Communion. Even taking medicine had to wait until after Mass. Fortunately that has changed. Since Vatican II we are encouraged to go to Communion unless we are in serious sin and need to go to Confession to get straight with God again.
In our first reading today from Exodus, Moses offers a sacrifice to God as a sign of the covenant between God and his people and the blood of the animals sacrificed is sprinkled on the altar and the people. There is a blood bond between God and his people.
In our second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews, this theme continues: “For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer’s ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.” Jesus offered himself for us on the cross.
Our Gospel reading is an account of the Last Supper when Jesus changed the bread and wine at the supper into his Body and Blood and united it to his sacrifice on the cross. “While they were eating, he took bread, and said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them and said, ‘Take it; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.”
We do the same thing at every Mass. The bread and the wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ as food for our journey to God.
On Friday the Church celebrates the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Sacred Heart is the Patron of the priests of Holy Cross. I especially like this image when it is made with Jesus’ hands extended out from his exposed heart. Thus he is inviting us to go to him in love. He is there calling us to his heart, to his love.
On Saturday the Church celebrates the Immaculate Heart of Mary. There is nothing like the love a mother has in her heart for her children. Mary is the mother of Jesus, the church and each of us.
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.
At the invitation of Pete Morgan, Dan Mandell and I attended a “Call In” at the Charles Martin Center. This was a very moving experience as the police and public officials “called in” about 25 gang members from South Bend and presented a program telling them what the police are doing to stop the shootings in the city. Legal people were there and told them how much time they face in prison, if they are not killed by one another. A mother told her story about her 15 year old son being killed and two ex-offenders told their stories on how they turned their lives around. One very strong point that was made is that young men in gangs are killing other young men in gangs and this is mostly black on black crime in South Bend. Three 17 year olds have been gunned down lately. There were several companies there to offer jobs and many community members there for support. Change your lives! Stop the shootings! You are loved! These were the main messages. Let us pray that this works.
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.