 Fr.
Tom's Tomes June 18, 2006
Happy Father’s Day to all fathers as we celebrate this National Day of recognition. I hope all of our fathers will have a blessed day. Last weekend in the bulletin I outlined briefly where I think we need to concentrate our efforts as a parish community in the next 1 to 3 years. The first area of concentration I mentioned was the sacramental area of our parish community. This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. This Feast can also be called Corpus Christi. As the Catholic Church we take this Sunday to remind ourselves of the importance of the Eucharist in our lives. The Catholic Church believes during Mass the Holy Spirit comes forth to change the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. We read in the Gospel’s where Jesus at the Last Supper took bread, blessed it and broke and gave it to the apostles saying "This is my body". Again at the end of the Last Supper he took a cup filled with wine, blessed it and gave it to the apostles saying "this is my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant, do this in memory of me". How blessed are we to believe every time we come to Mass we receive the Body and Blood of Christ. What does it do for us? It strengthens us to do the will of God. It gives us the spiritual nourishment we need to continue to be good people and it allows Christ to work in our lives. Every time we receive communion Jesus Christ enters us and works within us. Even if we do not think Christ is working in us He is. The Eucharist continues to transform us to become more Christ like. The Eucharist changes us to become more loving. It changes us to become more like Jesus Christ so we can go forth to share his message with others. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. We as Catholics gather weekly. We gather to share in the sacrifice of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection when we gather for Mass. This gathering is not just a remembrance of the salvation Jesus won for us but is actually taking part in the great plan of salvation for all. When we stop to think about what we do at Mass it is important for us to come ready to celebrate the Eucharist. You have heard me say many times already it is important to be present from the beginning of Mass until the end of the Mass which is the end of the closing song. I have noticed many people who come late and many who leave early. The Mass is the most important action of our entire week. We take part in Jesus giving us salvation. We can afford the time to be here. I know at times there are reasons why a person might have to arrive late or leave early but I think what has happened here is that it has become a habit to arrive late and leave early. I invite you to think of the importance of what we are doing are to do your best to be present for the entire Mass. We all want to be in heaven. We need to give Jesus time to work in our lives and to open ourselves to Jesus presence. This is one of the most important ways to open ourselves to God. I also invite all of us to fully participate in the Eucharist. Join with one another in singing, in praying the responses at Mass, in receiving the Eucharist and then taking a time of reflection to allow Jesus to work in our lives. The Mass is an active participation of all who are present. It is not like watching a TV show, or going to the movies or using the internet. It is each and every one of us totally becoming involved with what is happening at Mass. I want to thank many people who have helped around St. Columban’s Parish this past week. There were many women from the St. Anne’s Altar Society who cleaned the parish kitchen off of the gym this past week. They worked four days in cleaning the kitchen and I appreciate their work. The couple who trimmed the bushes in back of the rectory. Those who have helped so far paint in the Early Learning Center building. Thanks to three gentlemen who come to church at St. Columban’s who paid for a night stay for couple at the Super 8 whose car had broken down. The wife had a blood clot in her leg and they needed a place to stay until her brother could come and pick them up. I appreciate all this help as it continues to show the love and support of the people for our parish. God bless you and have a blessed week. |