Shamus O’Reilly lived alone in the Irish countryside, his pet dog was his companion. When the dog died, Shamus went to the Fr. Patrick, the parish priest and asked, "Father, my dog has died, would you say a Mass for him?"
Father Patrick replied, "Shamus I know you loved your dog very much, but we can’t have services for an animal in the church. Why don’t check with the Protestant church down the road, they might be willing do something for your dog." “Thank you Father do you think a $15,000 donation is sufficient?" Father Patrick exclaimed, “Shamus why didn't you tell me your dog was Catholic?"
In 1983 Anne Murray released a hit record “A Little Good News”, the song enumerated many of the troubles of that era: war, economic woes, murders, robberies, fires, etc. –
Sound familiar? One of the verses asked for some hope, “We sure could use a little good news today.”
Many of us want A Little Good News Today.
You are here for “Good News” & the Good News is we will be fed with God’s Word & Eucharist, offered to us. There is an old saying, “You are worth your weight in gold.”
Way back in 1947 on September 6, I was born & the price of an ounce of gold was $34.71; this last Wednesday it was $4,550.00. So my value has increased at least “… in gold.”
Our real value lies in how fully we allow Jesus to guide our lives. Jesus gives us “The Bread of Life” to nourish us on our journey here on earth & we are blessed to be partakers in “That Bread.” In Today’s Gospel Jesus teaches us that He “… is the living bread that came down from Heaven.”
One of my grandchildren finished a Popsicle & on the stick was this [awful] Pun. “Where do bad rainbows go?” “Prism, It’s a light sentence.”
In that awful Pun, but a beautiful analogy for the Light of Christ.
We are the Prism for the Light of Christ – dispersing His Light by our actions.
Jesus gave us the Extraordinary Gift of the Eucharist, His Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity: At once:
Simple & Mundane [bread & wine]
Esoteric & Divine [His body & blood of Jesus].
The Real Presence Offered to us in the Eucharist – Bread for the Journey - foretaste of the Heavenly Banquet.
Jesus call us, invites us, beckons us to experience Him, the Bread of Life, as nourishment/food for our journey.
Let me share some excerpts from a poem,
“Light after darkness,
gain after loss,
Strength after weakness,
crown after cross;
Sweet after bitter,
hope after fears, …
Alpha and Omega,
beginning and the end,
He is making all things new.
Springs of living water shall wash away each tear,
He is making all things new.
Joy after sorrow,
peace after pain;
Love after loneliness,
life after tomb.”
[Adopted from Frances Havergal’s “Light After Darkness” & Revelation 21: 5-6, Elaine Hagenberg’s “All Things New”]
After Communion we conclude our Diocesan 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory by offering the Prayer for Eucharistic Consecration to Jesus, Bread of Life: True God/True Man. Today as we conclude our preparation, may our devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus guide us & our nation each day.
St. Teresa wrote, “Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks Compassion on this world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”
When you receive the Eucharist the Lord enters your body, let Him guide your heart & your soul.
May God Be Praised.
Loved this message George. Thank you. Kathy
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome.
ReplyDelete