Memorial Day is a testimony to the many women and men who have paid a great price for the freedoms and blessings we enjoy as a nation. Memorial Day is also a testimony to our short memories. Memorial Day reminds us of how much we owe to others. Elsewhere in the world, millions of people groan under repressive and corrupt governments that abuse the power and privileges of governance with impunity. People in such nations have nowhere to seek redress and not even the opportunity to express their pains. I think one of the worst things we can do for our country and for our own good is to take our blessings for granted.
Jesus gave us the Mass for the same reason we celebrate Memorial Day – because we can quickly forget how we have been blessed through the sacrifice of Jesus, and we quickly forget to be grateful. He told the apostles (and through them, all of us) at the Last Supper: “Do this in memory of me.”
Today at Mass we celebrate the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. Our Mass, though, is more than a simple reminder or remembrance. Our faith teaches us that at Mass we are mystically connected with Christ’s sacrifice and with the presence of the Risen Christ. It is interesting that so many people believe the Son of God became human but cannot be really present in the bread and wine, as He promised. At Christmas, our churches are full and we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Son of God who came down to share human nature. Yet, some of the same people have difficulty believing God can be present to us in bread and wine.
In our gospel reading Jesus said “the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world….” He went on to say: “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” Some of his disciples found this to be a hard teaching and walked away. Jesus didn’t call them back and say, “You misunderstood me,” or “I’m just talking symbolically.” The Eucharist is the real body and blood of Jesus, and the powers of this sacrament have worked wonders of faith in the lives of those who believe in it. The appearance, the taste, the feel and color remain bread and wine, but the effects of its powers have been proven to be real to those who believe. What greater gift of love can a person give than their own selves? May we not take it for granted!
Fr. Gabriel Wankar
Priest-in-Residence