DEACON TOM ANTHONY

Saturday, May 28, 2016







MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

 Today, we are asked to focus on Gift of the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which Jesus gave as a precious gift to us. The Eucharist is central to our faith it is what we celebrate every day as Catholics, especially on Sunday where we gather in community to share that common bond that unites us as Christians and remember the sacrifice that Jesus Christ offered so that we all may obtain eternal life. The Eucharist is that Spiritual Food which gives us strength to confront the daily obstacles and challenges that we will encounter every day. Through it, Christ is present in the physical sense. We consume Him and unite ourselves with him. Yes, He is always with us spiritually but, through the Eucharist, the spiritual, mental, and physical become one. Not only does it offer us strength but it also offers us hope and encouragement. Nothing can oppose the Eucharist. Nothing can overcome its presence.

The Eucharist is Jesus Christ. This is a fact. When Jesus Christ gathered his disciples together on the night before he died, he explicitly said, “ Take it: THIS IS MY BODY.” He then took the cup and said, “THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE COVENANT WHICH WILL BE SHED FOR MANY.” He gave this to us to offer himself to us. Since that moment, we have all celebrated and experienced this moment for over two thousand years. Through this celebration, we receive Him and He receives us. Our sins are forgiven and He is united to us. Even though it is a moment in time and space, God is beyond the limitations of time and space. It is eternal as is God. We receive Him and He receives us. We are invited to go back to the Book of Genesis to read when Melchizedek went out from Salem to receive Abraham. He brought out bread and wine. This represents an earlier personification of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us. Melchizedek, a priest, prophet, and king. Melchizedek, a priest forever who has no beginning or end. Christ is revealed through Melchizedek and through His interaction with Abraham Jesus Christ is revealed.

The Crucifixion is eternal. In the physical sense there was a definite time and place where this occurred. Yet, Christ is eternal. He is the alpha and the Omega. With that, the Crucifixion has and always will take place bringing salvation and glory to the entire universe. When we celebrate mass, we celebrate the Crucifixion. We participate in everything from the Last Supper, Jesus’ death, and His resurrection. We are united to Him in everything from His love, death, and resurrection. It is a constant reminder of what He did for us. Our lives are centralized with Him and for Him. Through the celebration of the mass, we are brought to a higher awareness of who we are in relation to Jesus Christ. The mass becomes the most important hour of our lives through our interaction with Jesus Christ. It is there that we discover ourselves and who we are in relation to Jesus Christ We cannot separate ourselves from the mass. It defines who we are and invites us into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. It is through the mass where we can begin to explore our relationship with Jesus Christ, coming forward in our broken nature to seek and receive forgiveness through Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Take a moment this week to meditate on the mass and the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Take a moment to understand what we are all missing when we do not participate in our Christian life.

Deacon Tom

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