This Sunday, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, or as we more commonly call it, Corpus Christi Sunday. The Eucharist is the life of the Church, and today, we call to mind the great gift of Christ’s own body. When Christ surrendered his spirit on the cross, water and blood flowed from his side and the great outpouring of the Body and Blood was made complete. We celebrate that gift every time we gather at the table of the Lord.
This year, in particular, the power of the Eucharist is drawing thousands of Catholics from across the country to the 10th National Eucharistic Congress taking place in Indianapolis, IN, on July 17-21. There will be a series of talks, breakout sessions, liturgies, hours for Adoration, and much more from a great line-up of speakers and presenters. Our own Cardinal DiNardo will be there, along with a delegation from the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. You can join them, too. For more information on travel arrangements and tickets, visit www.eucharisticcongress.org.
This weekend is also an opportune time to examine our disposition, both internally and externally, as we come to the table of the Lord. Does the manner of our dress reflect the worthiness of what we are receiving? Yes, even in summertime when it is hot outside, we still need to take care that the clothes we wear to Mass are appropriate for coming to the feast of the Lord. Am I participating fully and joyfully, or just going through the motions? Have I reflected on my need for God’s mercy and forgiveness, and have I forgiven others who have trespassed against me? Do I acknowledge the presence of the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament by word, gesture and action? All of these questions are good “food for thought” as we come forward to receive the “food of everlasting life.”
It can become too easy for us to grow slack in our zeal for the Eucharist if we do not keep the power of this sacrament foremost on our mind and in our heart. Remember that what you are doing is receiving the very body and blood of your salvation, Jesus Christ. Stop and re-read that sentence. You are receiving the very body and blood of Christ. Not a representation of that body and blood, not a likeness of it, or a symbol, but the real presence of Christ. We could discuss that singular point from here to eternity and not even begin to approach the richness of it.
Recall as well that our celebration of the Eucharist does not simply end when Mass ends. We carry that Body and Blood in our life throughout the week. When we live as a Eucharistic people it makes a difference in our lives. We are to live as one who has been redeemed. We carry Christ within us so that we can go and be Christ for others. “Become what you receive,” as St. Augustine says.
We also have the great opportunity at CtR to be in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament of Jesus 24 hours a day in our Adoration Chapel so that we might continue to cherish the gift of the Mass throughout the week. I highly encourage you to stop by the Adoration Chapel before or after Mass, or any time during the week, to give thanks to God. We have more than 300 parishioners who dedicate an hour a week at all hours of the day and night to spend in adoration. We do have, however, some hours in the week when there is just one person in adoration. It would be wonderful to fill that time with additional adorers. Please consider joining this most vital ministry of our parish. It’s a blessing not only to the one who spends time in adoration, but clearly for the parish as a whole. There is information in the Adoration Chapel on how to join, or visit www.ctrcc.com/adoration.
You might be interested to know that it is a long-standing practice of our Archdiocese that the entire weekly offertory collection of Corpus Christi Sunday from every parish is given to St. Mary’s Seminary to support the training of seminarians. Without priests, there is no Eucharist, so that’s why it is tied to this particular weekend. In addition, I’m happy to announce that a young adult from our parish, Warren Maness, has been accepted as a seminarian for our Archdiocese and will begin his formation and discernment this summer. Congrats to Warren, and join me in praying for him and for more vocations from not only CtR but all parishes in Galveston-Houston.
I invite us to be generous in the offertory this week so that we might support our seminarians. And, if I might be so bold, since we don’t keep any of the collection this week (we have to operate on a 51-week offertory budget), please remember the parish in next week’s collection so that we might close the gap of what we donate this week. Thank you!
Lastly, a reminder again that we have an immediate opening for the position of Business Manager at our CtR Catholic School. We’d like to get that filled this summer, and so I ask you to help us spread the word to those you might know who would be interested in working (full-time) at a great school helping us manage our financial affairs as part of our administration team. A background and experience in accounting or finance is a must, of course, but so is a desire to work collaboratively to serve our parents and students. A complete job description can be found at www.ctrschool.com/workwithus.