St James Catholic Church

This Sunday is the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, (or as we used to say Corpus Christi).  We gather each weekend at the table of the Lord, invited to share in this sacred meal in which Christ himself provides the food and drink for us to consume, the bread of life and the cup of eternal salvation.        St. Paul tells us that Jesus told his disciples to remember him each time they celebrate the Eucharist.  Nearly two thousand years after the first time his followers did, we celebrate the Mass, remembering that Jesus Christ died and rose to redeem us from sin, giving his earthly life to give us heavenly life.

Have you ever invited friends for dinner and had more show up than you expected?  Imagine the disciples who got five loaves and two fish for Jesus for the twelve, and now was told to feed a crowd of five thousand.  No wonder they asked Jesus to dismiss the crowd and let them find their own food.  But Jesus directs them to ask the crowd to sit down in groups of fifty.  Dividing up the crowd doesn’t sound any more promising!  But Jesus divides the loaves and fish and gives them to the disciples to feed each group.  They went home satisfied.  Jesus, the Bread of Life, is able to feed everyone in need.

We, the Church, are the body of Christ.  Therefore, we are called to offer ourselves to others in his name.  When we do so, we can feed thousands.  What may seem impossible to provide on a huge scale, food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, welcome for the stranger, comfort for the sorrowing, justice for the oppressed, and mercy for the sinner, can happen through the Body of Christ.  It is up to us having received Christ’s body in this holy and blessed sacrament, to share this gift in abundance to those in need.

Love, Peace, Joy,

Fr. Bob

This weekend, as a nation, we celebrate Father’s Day.  A friend of mine jokingly says, “ We celebrate Father’s Day one day and Mother’s Day every day.”  And so, on behalf of Donna, Carl, Mary Jo, Fred, Linda, Dale, Fr. George, and myself, we extend a blessed day to all our fathers, grandfathers, godfathers, and male care takers.  May the Lord continue to give you health and happiness as your serve others.