This Sunday we reflect on the Eucharist as we hear Jesus proclaim that what God asks of us is to believe in Jesus whom he sent into the world.
Jesus promises that the bread he provides does so much more than just satisfy our physical hunger — it satisfies our deepest human hungers. Jesus makes a clear connection between believing in him, as the one sent by the Father, and believing in his real presence in this “bread sent down from heaven” that we receive each time we gather around the table of the Lord.
Jesus wants the people to understand that this bread that he is offering is no ordinary bread. But rather “divine food” given because of God’s amazing love for them, God’s amazing love for us!
Over two thousand years later we still struggle to comprehend this mystery…Jesus’ real living presence in this bread, blessed, broken and shared. As a Eucharistic Community our gathering focuses on Jesus’ real presence in our midst…as we are gathered by his love.
Jesus’ extravagant gift of himself to us is not just for us…but for the sake of the world — for this suffering world caught up in the midst of wars, unimaginable poverty and famine, with millions of lives at risk because of climate change and political turmoil. But there is hope in the midst of all this distress, and the hope is the amazing transformative power of the love of God!
We are called to be the real manifestations of hope for all those people in our lives who are fearful, lonely and sick, to reach out to them, to be the “real presence” for them and to them.
The real challenge for us is to understand that as we gather for Eucharist. It is not just for our personal salvation…but that we are commissioned and sent forth to take that real presence of Jesus Christ out into a wounded world. We are called to be “Christ-bearers” bringing the healing presence of Jesus Christ to all those we meet but especially to those most in need: the marginalized, the immigrant and migrant, the disenfranchised minorities subjected to systemic racism, bigotry, misogyny and intolerance. We are emboldened to speak truth to power, both secular and religious — we are called to speak out against the sins of our nation and of our church.
This “real presence” within us emboldens us to be true disciples of Christ in action in the world building up the Reign of God through acts of kindness and generosity so the world might be, not as people in their brokenness have made it, but as God has dreamt it to be — a world of peace and justice, a world of equity and harmony where all people’s dignity is honored and respected!
And where the earth itself is respected and cared for! And so I believe we need to ask ourselves: for whom have I recently been “the real presence” of Jesus through acts of kindness and generosity? How do I share this “real presence” with my family and friends? To whom in my life is God calling me to be “the real presence” to, so that they might know how deeply and passionately they are loved by God?
Blessings,
Fr. Tim
Jesus promises that the bread he provides does so much more than just satisfy our physical hunger — it satisfies our deepest human hungers. Jesus makes a clear connection between believing in him, as the one sent by the Father, and believing in his real presence in this “bread sent down from heaven” that we receive each time we gather around the table of the Lord.
Jesus wants the people to understand that this bread that he is offering is no ordinary bread. But rather “divine food” given because of God’s amazing love for them, God’s amazing love for us!
Over two thousand years later we still struggle to comprehend this mystery…Jesus’ real living presence in this bread, blessed, broken and shared. As a Eucharistic Community our gathering focuses on Jesus’ real presence in our midst…as we are gathered by his love.
Jesus’ extravagant gift of himself to us is not just for us…but for the sake of the world — for this suffering world caught up in the midst of wars, unimaginable poverty and famine, with millions of lives at risk because of climate change and political turmoil. But there is hope in the midst of all this distress, and the hope is the amazing transformative power of the love of God!
We are called to be the real manifestations of hope for all those people in our lives who are fearful, lonely and sick, to reach out to them, to be the “real presence” for them and to them.
The real challenge for us is to understand that as we gather for Eucharist. It is not just for our personal salvation…but that we are commissioned and sent forth to take that real presence of Jesus Christ out into a wounded world. We are called to be “Christ-bearers” bringing the healing presence of Jesus Christ to all those we meet but especially to those most in need: the marginalized, the immigrant and migrant, the disenfranchised minorities subjected to systemic racism, bigotry, misogyny and intolerance. We are emboldened to speak truth to power, both secular and religious — we are called to speak out against the sins of our nation and of our church.
This “real presence” within us emboldens us to be true disciples of Christ in action in the world building up the Reign of God through acts of kindness and generosity so the world might be, not as people in their brokenness have made it, but as God has dreamt it to be — a world of peace and justice, a world of equity and harmony where all people’s dignity is honored and respected!
And where the earth itself is respected and cared for! And so I believe we need to ask ourselves: for whom have I recently been “the real presence” of Jesus through acts of kindness and generosity? How do I share this “real presence” with my family and friends? To whom in my life is God calling me to be “the real presence” to, so that they might know how deeply and passionately they are loved by God?
Blessings,
Fr. Tim
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