Can I get an AMEN for being Catholic? This past Sunday, the Church celebrated the feast of Corpus Christi, a feast in which we celebrate the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Once again we are reminded of the sacrifice and gift of our Lord on the Cross and in the Eucharist. God loved us so much that He not only sent His Son to die for us, but He humbled Himself to become food for us. This is what we believe and this is what we celebrate.
I once heard a priest say that “there ain’t no party like a Catholic party.” I think it is a great concept as most young people understand the concept of a party. When is the last time you were excited to be Catholic? When is the last time you looked forward to going to Mass and rejoicing in the gifts we have been given as members of the Catholic Church? When is the last time your whole life revolved around practicing your faith instead of just making it another thing to do or group to be a part of? Those questions are good for all of us to answer.
As I was sitting in Mass on Sunday, I couldn’t help but feel renewed and blessed in the gift of being Catholic. We have a treasure that no other church shares with us! There are so many people and churches that have strayed so far from that gift that Christ gave his disciples on the night of the Last Supper, the gift of Himself. What a perfect gift! God knew us so well when He gave us a physical presence of Himself. Think about it - if we didn’t have the Eucharist, the idea of God or concept in our minds would be all we have. But our God knew that would not be enough. In a way that was most natural and necessary for us as humans, He became our very food, the very thing we cannot live without. What a mystery and what a gift! Without feeding our bodies and gaining nourishment, our bodies could not stay healthy and we would die. And God as food comes to nourish us every day, as we have opportunity to receive Him and let Him reign in our very selves. What life! What food!