FOR THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
AND
THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary as well as the ordinary Sunday of the Church Year. When the Assumption is on a weekday, it is a special feast of its own – but this year since the 15th is a Saturday – this feast day is joined together with the Sunday Mass.
But first let me tell you about my week – lots of very interesting and unique activities. Tuesday was the day of my brother Tom’s surgery – I traveled down to see how he came through the whole thing – and he seemed to do very well – and by the next day they had him up and walking the floor – I am certain that the nurses and aides didn’t know what they had gotten into – as he charged around visiting everyone – and trying to get a few more students for LeMoyne.
And in the evening – I had a new experience – going out to a local pub near the University – having a drink with my nephews – Bill and Paul – and Susan, Paul’s wife – you might say it was an investigation of how the other half live – and I met some old friends at the hospital – the Graham’s – Carol and John – as well as their son, Dan – and his new wife, Rachel – the last time I saw them was at the wedding.
On my way, home – I had supper with Father Joe, in Rome – and as I left to head into the Adirondack I came upon the most beautiful rainbow, I have seen in a long time – I truly felt that I was driving right into the middle of it. I must add a note of thanks to Father Joe for supper – and another thank you to my young friend , Mark, for the hot dog after the 5th hole on Friday – and also another thank you – a lovely gift from the folks at Silver Bay – when I stopped out there for a special Mass – Friday night – in honor of the Blessed Mother’s Assumption. Oh, yes – thank you to Jean and Jim who took me out to supper after that Mass. It was a good week – and the weather was gorgeous to boot.
Now – two quick ideas – the Assumption – for us, Catholics, devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is extremely important – and in faith we are called to imitate Mary – just as she brought Jesus to this world as the Mother of the Savior – so we are called to bring Jesus to our world. And we do that best by imitating the Blessed Mother – by being a faith-filled, loving and peaceful people. She was rewarded by being assumed into Heaven – and from there becomes our Mother and model – always ready to walk with us through the days – the good ones and the tough ones – of life.
The message of the Gospel of the ordinary Sunday Mass – still from John 6 – reminds us that our Eucharist is about the sacrifice of Jesus – who offer this First Eucharist the evening before he would be crucified – and also the words of Jesus reminds us and verifies for us that Jesus was truly a man – a human being. Some over the ages have often thought of Jesus as sort of a strange person – a divine person, walking around in our human world. No – Jesus was truly one of us – so he speaks of his flesh and blood.
“The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” – “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him on the last day.”
So we believe – firmly – in faith – that in the Holy Eucharist – the presence of Jesus comes to us – completely – though not physically – Jesus still is truly present to us – Body and Soul – Flesh and Blood – in this most wonderful sacrament. When we receive the Holy Eucharist – we truly are united with our Lord and Savior – literally – the Lord goes with us as we leave the Eucharist – to be part of our lives – to give it more life than ever – to truly put fire into all that we are to do. And as we join with all of our family and friends in this Eucharist – we become united in such a beautiful way – we become family – united in the Spirit of our Savior – so that we may live in the Spirit of our God that is ours in this Eucharist.
LET US PRAY
Almighty God, my Father – on this day, I pray through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of Jesus – as Mary brought Jesus into our world – I long to have the faith and love of Mary – that I may bring the Jesus who comes to me in the Blessed Eucharist – into my world by living in the love and Spirit of my Savior. This is my prayer. Amen.
Please join me as we say together the Lord’s Prayer.
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