Do you believe strongly in Christ’s presence in the Eucharist?  On the Feast of Corpus Christi (the Body and Blood of the Lord), we have an opportunity to reaffirm our faith in the Eucharist.  This day we can take our stand and accept God’s covenant gift with us.  We can tell the Lord that we believe all He said at the Last Supper about the Eucharist.

During our journey through life we sometimes have to cross deserts, encounter accidents endure disappointments or suffer tragedies.  By ourselves we could never survive.  Left to our own strength we would give up.  That is why we need the Eucharist and the strength that comes from this sacred bread to energize our spirits.  This is why we need God’s special presence and power.

In Mark’s gospel we read how our Lord left the upper room and walked out to the Mount of Olives.  What He left was the Last Supper during which He instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist.  His walking out to the Mount of Olives was also something very sacramental and symbolic.  Jesus was showing that He was ready for His destiny and that He was resolved to lay down His life for us on the cross.

May this often be our own experience after celebrating the Eucharist.  Coming into church we may be afraid of what we have to face in the future.  But when we leave, may we be resolved to take up our cross.  Coming in to church we may have serious doubts about how to deal with certain difficulties.  But when we leave,  may we be filled with determination to do what God expects of us.

As we celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass pray for faith in the Eucharist.  Pray for a faith which firmly believes that Christ is always present in the Eucharist, regardless of how absent He may seem to be at times.  Pray for a faith which believes that Christ’s power is always available to us, regardless of how helpless we may feel at times.  Pray for a faith which enables us to walk with the Lord to our own Mount of Olives and rise with Him in glory.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell