LIVING AS THE MYSTICAL BODY
As we celebrate this feast of Corpus Christi, I want to ask a seemingly unrelated question. If you could change New Year’s Day to any day of the year, which day would you pick? What criteria would you use? A birthday? Your favorite Saint’s feast day? The first day of spring, summer, or winter? I ask this because for centuries a closely related feast was celebrated as the beginning of the new year in Great Britain, and during the foundation of our United States of America. Within the British Empire, from 1155 to 1752, the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25th) was the beginning of the new year. (I am obliged, by myself, to mention that Tolkien uses March 25th as the New Year after the fall of Sauron and the Return of the King). The Word taking on human flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary was the first day of a new existence for humanity. We were no longer mere humans going about human things, with God simply reigning in Heaven. God had become one of us. From all eternity, God entered time. From all His heavenly glory, God entered the messiness of humanity. Corpus Christi, in a way, is the bookend of the Annunciation. Jesus begins by giving Himself to us through the Virgin Mary, and He ends with giving Himself to us every day in the Eucharist, which we celebrate today. As St. Francis of Assisi says: ‘What wonderful majesty! What stupendous condescension! O sublime humility! O humble sublimity! That the Lord of the whole universe, God and the Son of God, should humble Himself like this under the form of a little bread, for our salvation.’ He goes on to say that heaven and earth should tremble with awe when God is made present on the altar in the hands of a priest. Do we have this mindset every Sunday? Are we truly aware of the glorious event taking place at Mass?
What a beautiful theme to reflect on as we have ended our faith formation program year. Looking back at the graces that the Lord has given us, shows us how deeply He continues to come to us in our humanity. This year, we welcomed eight people into the Church at Easter, 25 children received their first Holy Communion, and 18 youth received the Sacrament of Confirmation. What a gift this year has been! What a sign of love that the Lord is showing us. The Lord is always offering us ways to let Him in. He stands by the door of our hearts, waiting for us to open wide the doors. What can we expect from Jesus during these quieter summer months and the beginning of a new program year in the fall? Who knows what amazing paths the Lord will lead us down! As we walk through summer and look ahead to the autumn months, we want to offer even more to our parishioners. With this desire comes the need for more volunteers from the parish. We are always called to tithe our time, talent, and treasure. Is the Lord tugging on your heart to give more of your time or talent? Are there ways that you can offer yourself just as Christ offers Himself to us? Please reach out to me or Bernadette, if you feel called. May the Lord give success to the work of our hands.
~Grant O’Neil, Director of Lifelong Discipleship & Outreach