Praise be Jesus Christ, forever and ever. Amen.
Today is the first
Sunday in Lent and I had a great ministry experience visiting with
the children preparing to make their first communion.
The first day of
Lent began as I prayed and contemplated Luke 4:16-30. Jesus went to the synagogue
in his home town of Capernaum and was given the scroll to read. He said this
has been fulfilled in your hearing. The people didn't necessary like what Jesus said.
The scripture
readings at mass included the Gospel telling us of Jesus’ temptation in the
desert; and, how Jesus proclaimed the gospel of God. And in the epistle, Peter
wrote "Christ suffered so He might lead you to God.”
My random passage
for prayer was PS 19:15 - "Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." I thank the Holy Spirit gave me that one
in preparation for speaking to children.
It was a wonderful
blessing to meet with the first communion preparation class. I had
come to explain receiving communion. I let them taste the unconsecrated
communion host. I explained they were eating just bread.
Then I told them
how it becomes the body of Christ when consecrated on the altar. The Eucharist is when
we as a Church celebrate the Lord’s Last Supper. Then I asked if anyone could tell
me what that was?
My grandson raised
his hand and explained it beautifully and almost perfectly. Jesus took bread
and wine and gave it to his disciples and said this is my body and blood – eat it.
Trying to speak so a seven year old can understand, I explained that after it becomes the body of Christ, it was still going to look
like bread and wine, taste like bread and wine, and feel like bread and wine. But, through the prayers of the priest, the power of the Holy Spirit, and grace
of God, it becomes the real body and blood of Christ.
Afterwards one
little girl told her mom, she had tasted communion bread. Mom ask, “Did she
like it?” She said “It was wonderful and
it wasn’t even Jesus yet.”
These children are
so excited about their first communion and becoming part of the celebration of
the mass; But, what about the rest of us? Many have become like the people in
Jesus home town. They listen to Jesus and find his words troublesome.
I think over the
past year, many have found themselves in the desert with all these temptations around
them. The devil is challenging so many people’s faith. He wants us to be like those who get mad a
Jesus and let Jesus slip from their midst.
Prayerfully this is
not my fate. By God’s grace, it is not the fate of these children so excited to
soon be receiving Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. But, possibly it may a problem for those easily
finding a reason not to come to mass.
Friends it is time
to get excited about receiving Jesus. Our Lady of Fatima and St. Lawrence have
three masses on the weekend. Each mass has good attendance; but, none are full.
Come back to mass. Come back to Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Christ suffered
so much so that he might lead you to God.
Follow him. Call your
priest. Call your deacon. Reserve a spot and prepare to make yourself ready for
the Kingdom of God. Make yourself ready this Lent.
Be good, be holy
and preach the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another. Praise
be Jesus Christ, forever and ever. Amen.
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