My brothers and sisters,
Praise to you Lord, Jesus Christ!
This weekend, I will not be celebrating Eucharist with you because I am the Spiritual Advisor for the Catholic Women’s League (CWL) Diocesan level and their Convention will be at Holy Child Parish in Summerland. Please pray for all the ladies traveling and attending this Convention. Have a Happy Sunday!
In our Gospel this weekend (John 15: 9-17), the Lord Jesus continues to develop last Sunday’s idea of union with Him as a condition to bear fruits of holiness in our lives. He does so by emphasizing that keeping His “Love Commandment” is the practical way to show the reality of our union with Him and to bear fruit. There is a life-giving relationship between union with Jesus and fruitfulness, love and obedience to God’s Commandments. The Eucharist we celebrate is a manifestation of our union with Jesus and among ourselves. It is also a most effective way to strengthen such a union whenever we proclaim God’s Word, participate in shared prayer, and receive Holy Communion.
The Eucharist is the apex, the source and summit of Christian life. But it is so only insofar as it is “enfleshed” by our concrete acts of loving. The Eucharist is a celebration of life, it should never be divorced from our concrete acts of loving. When Jesus said, “Do this in memory of me,” He was not referring to a sentimental remembrance of Himself. The Lord Jesus is not lacking in attention, rather He invites us to love as He loved. When we love, we celebrate the memory of Jesus, the celebration of the Eucharist becomes a real celebration of life.
AMEN
God Loves You!
~ Fr. NEIL