A Letter from Fr. Paul - Sunday, June 6th

This is our second weekend with new Covid protocols.  I thank everyone for their cooperation. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.
 
I enjoyed celebrating the graduation Mass this past Thursday.  I promised the graduates that we would accompany them in prayer as they begin a new phase of life.  Congratulations! Thank you to their parents and the staff at Wauwatosa Catholic for a great job of mentoring them.
 
This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).  Our three readings bring together the significance of this feast, tying together all of God’s relationship with humanity.
 
The reading from Exodus presents the first covenant God made with His people through Moses.  Blood was splashed on the altar and on the people, sealing the covenant.  In the second reading, the author of Hebrews explains that Christ is the eternal High Priest.  Since He Himself was blameless, His sacrifice was a once and for all offering for the salvation of all of us.  No need for anything else. The Gospel is Mark’s version of the Last Supper: in anticipation of His death, Christ’s institutes the “new and eternal covenant of His Blood.”
 
What does this mean for us?  First, it means we are redeemed by Christ’s sacrifice: He offered Himself up for us.  Second, through the institution of the Eucharist, Christ incorporated us into His Body and gives us the food we need to live as His disciples.  Just as the food we eat nourishes our physical bodies and gives us the health and strength we need to live a productive life, the spiritual food of Christ’s Body and Blood nourishes us spiritually and gives us the spiritual health and strength we need to live Gospel values and bring the Good News to others.
 
It is not easy to always think of others.  It is not easy to wash feet.  It is not easy to forgive.  It is not easy to love others as we love ourselves.  For that reason, we have been given the Holy Spirit to guide us (which we celebrated two weeks ago on Pentecost) and the Eucharist to strengthen and sustain us.
 
The Lord wants us to succeed.  He gives us the help we need.  Am I taking the best possible advantage of these great supports the Lord has given me?
 
With grateful hearts, let us thank the Lord for His support.  May the Body and Blood of Christ bring us to everlasting life! 
 
Church sign of the week: The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.