When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
***
***
Critics can be quick to point out what they see as contradictions in our faith.
For example, people call me “Father,” but I have no children.
Jesus teaches us to love our enemies; to pray for those who persecute us; to humble ourselves in order to be exalted; to serve, not to be served.
***
These teachings are summarized in the Beatitudes, which we hear in today’s Gospel. The poor, the persecuted, and the peacemakers will be blessed.
To one without faith, this may seem like a strange “how to” on being a doormat; up is down and down is up.
But that’s precisely the point.
Jesus turns the often selfish values of this world upside down, right side up.
***
The only path to lasting peace is following Christ’s example of strength through service.
It’s a message our world needs to be reminded of today.
While Jesus’ teachings may seem like a series of contradictions, maybe it’s the world, not us, that has its logic twisted; everything Jesus teaches boils down to love.
Love is the root answer to many problems we face. If we can truly love one another, then peace, understanding, and justice will follow.
What does it look like for me to love my neighbors as myself today?
***
***
Image credits: (1) Malcom Guite, WordPress. (2) Jesus Christ Our Savior (3) She Talks With God, WordPress
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”‘ Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. While they were eating, he took bread, 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. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
The Gospel of the Lord.
***
***
I converted to Catholicism during my second year in college.
I wasn’t raised with much religion – I was baptized a Christian, but only went to church a handful of times afterwards.
I remember soul searching as a teenager, though, asking some of life’s bigger questions:
“Is there a God? Why is there evil? Why are so many born into poverty and violence? If God exists, does he know me? Does he have a plan for my life?”
Back then, my aunt attended a non-denominational mega church, so I reached out to her and asked her to take me. That became my only experience of Christianity until I reached Seton Hall University.
***
In college, I went to Mass for 100 Sundays, often sitting in the last pew, wondering what all of these Catholic gestures meant.
Why was there so much sitting, standing, kneeling, and responding? It seemed strange to me.
Then there was the Eucharist.
I remember clearly saying to myself, “That’s either Jesus or it is not. If it is, then I must have Him.”
But how would I know the difference?
***
I started reading the bible from cover to cover.
All of the miracles Jesus performed – from the multiplication of the loaves to the raising of Lazarus – pointed towards this pivotal moment. If the Lord could turn water into wine, then why could he not turn wine into his Precious Blood?
After all, the focus of Jesus’ ministry was healing people. It only makes sense that on the last night of his life on earth, he’d want to give us the only thing he had left: his Body and Blood.
His presence in our lives would be forever assured.
John’s Gospel makes this clear.
In chapter 6, Jesus says, “I am the bread of life…whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”
Dictionaries have been written over the centuries explaining why we believe this – why the Eucharist is the Promised Presence of Christ.
But instead of delving into theology, allow me to share why Eucharist is so meaningful to me. And, perhaps, why it may be so meaningful to you.
***
Each morning at Mass as I approach the altar and place the host in my hand, Christ repeats those sacred words through me, “This is my Body…This is my Blood.”
While it is he offering himself for us, I take that moment as an invitation to offer myself for you, as well.
In the silence of my heart, I pray in union with the Lord, saying, “This is also my body, my heart, and my life given up for this community of faith.”
Every homily written, every Mass, every baptism, wedding, or funeral celebrated is my way of giving myself up for you.
It’s how I participate in Christ’s command, “Do this in memory of me.”
Strangely enough, giving myself away has only increased my sense of purpose, my inner peace, and overall happiness in life.
***
***
Haven’t we all answered that command to some extent?
***
Think about all of the tiny sacrifices we make for one another throughout the day, allowing us to say with the Lord, “This is my body, this is my blood, this is my time, my heart, my life given up for you.”
We answer that call for our family members.
I think of pregnant mothers who share their bodies with their unborn children; young parents who sacrifice sleep and sanity to raise their children; parents who never miss a sports game or school ceremony; others who care for elderly parents or a spouse.
We answer the call within our community.
Think of the volunteers who run our parish soup kitchen; those who stand at the door and greet; those who teach in our CCD program; those who serve on staff; and those who are helping to rebuild our parish ministries.
I think of the countless frontline medical workers, fire fighters, police officers, and members of our military who risk their lives every day for our safety.
The examples are endless, but the call is the same. In the words of Saint Augustine: “Become what you are: the Body of Christ.”
***
In what ways do I answer the call to become like Christ, offering myself for others?
***
On this Feast of Corpus Christi, may we all unite ourselves to Him, who first loved us and gave himself for us.
***
***
Image credits: (1) The Sacrament of the Last Supper, by Salvador Dali @ National Gallery of Art (2) The Last Supper, by Leonardo DaVinci (3) Father Kevin Kilgore, St. Catherine of Siena (4) The Skit Guys
As Jesus was teaching in the temple area he said, “How do the scribes claim that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said:
The Lord said to my lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies under your feet.’
David himself calls him ‘lord’; so how is he his son?” The great crowd heard this with delight.
The Gospel of the Lord.
***
***
For the last several days, we’ve been reading through chapter 12 of Mark’s Gospel. In each passage, the religious authorities question Jesus:
“Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?”
“A woman married seven brothers, but was left with no children. At the resurrection, whose wife will she be?”
“Teacher, which is the first of all the commandments?”
Jesus answers every question with flying colors, so much so that Mark says, “No one dared to ask him any more questions.”
***
Now Jesus goes on the offensive.
***
Pushing the scribes and Pharisees’ understanding of the Old Testament, he says, “How do the scribes claim that the Christ is the Son of David?”
It’s a strange, dense question to us today.
But the point of it is this: Jesus is claiming equality with God. No other religious figure in history has ever made that claim.
This is what sets Christ apart from all the others. He’s isn’t an intermediary or a prophet; he’s God in the flesh.
Every prophecy and promise in the Old Testament points to him – from the place of his birth, to the miracles he performed, even the method of his death. Everything points to Christ as the promised presence of God.
What a marvelous claim!
***
While we may not know everything there is to know about God or the scriptures, what Jesus says is enough: if we know him, then we know God.
May we study his teachings of love and forgiveness, and put them into practice. Doing so leads to a life filled with blessings.
***
***
Image credits: (1) Inspired Walk (2) Winds of War, by Marc Chagall (3) Wilbert Funeral Services
