17th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Fr. Leo
Both Elisha, the man of God, and Jesus, the Son of God, feed more people than they have food for. In both cases, it was the work of God the Father that provided for the hungry. What makes Jesus’ feeding of the many unique, is that Jesus is still feeding the hungry who come to him in the Eucharist. More than earthly food, Jesus provides the bread of eternal life in every Eucharistic Liturgy.
More than the bread provided in the scriptures, the Eucharist is the living Christ, Son of God who always was, is and will be. He feeds us so that we may share in God’s life through his intercession and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
In the Eucharist we receive Christ and are drawn into the heart of the Holy Trinity. This is not something we can comprehend with the mind, but there is another part of us that knows the truth of God and his transforming love. Thus, receiving the Eucharist is a celebration and participation in the life of Christ. Through the Eucharist, the mystery of the Holy Trinity enfolds us and our Amen, our yes, to the Body of Christ, is faith made real allowing Christ to transform us from human men and women to men and women who live in and by the Spirit of God. We become then, adopted children of God.
The best suggestion I can make, is to allow ourselves to have the devotion of a heart felt hope of faith, as we say Amen when receiving communion. Then we become the dwelling place of the Devine as we receive into our bodies, the Body and Blood of Christ. This morning, let us receive and sit with his mystery simply asking in the silence of our hearts the grace we need to become more like Christ. We can pray with St. John the Baptist that Christ may increase in us as the mere earthly part of us decreases.
A Note of Thanks!
I'd like to personally thank all who have worked to make the parish grounds so beautiful. The gardens are inspiring as they lift the soul by the beauty of God reflected in them. Thanks for the work that allows the beauty of God's creation to bless us with a touch of grace to our senses.