Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ_A - All Ate and Were Satisfied_061420

Deacon Tom Writes,

“All Ate and Were Satisfied”

Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, Year A

Can we ever be satisfied...with anything? We want faster, bigger, better, more of everything and we want it right now. We don’t want to wait to have it, or work long and hard to get it. And the message we hear loud and clear today is, “You can have it all!” “You can have it your way!” Tell tale signs that our expectations are not realistic.

Our spiritual senses, if they are well developed, will tune us in to the fact that there is a problem with our instant gratification mindset and warn us that this is not the natural order of things. No created thing, no human being can completely satisfy us or our hearts desires. It is only God who can satisfy the deepest longing of our hearts. Today we contemplate the wisdom of God as we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. God, the architect of the universe and all that exists within it, designed us to seek the ultimate good, which can only be found in Him. The Almighty has “hard wired” us, so to speak, thus enabling us to know Him so that our life’s journey would be a quest to discover Him in all created things and to put them all aside in favor of Him, the one and only giver of life and of all that is.

Those who were fortunate to hear Jesus speak about the Kingdom of God did not realize the gift they were being given, the bread of life, food that would satisfy completely. As Catholics there is no more profound mystery of faith than what we experience when we receive the Eucharist – the Son of God comes into our lives and dwells within us and satisfies us completely. God becomes, in a sense, the very fuel that energizes us to do our part to help Him establish the reign of God in our times, in our lives, and in our world.

That God would become really present in the bread and wine during the Consecration remains a difficult teaching today as it was when Jesus first revealed it. Recall how many walked away because this teaching was too difficult? Jesus asked the apostles, “Will you leave me also?” And Peter responded, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

The gift of the Eucharist reveals God’s desire to be a part of the very fiber of our lives. Let us thank Him for this special gift that we often take for granted and His faithfulness to His promise of "Satisfaction Guaranteed" for those who trust in His Word. 

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Decision Time

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Decision Time.”

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Not surprisingly, the Wisdom passage we read today gives us good, sound advice, a “word to the wise”, you might say. It tells us, “to forsake foolishness that you may live” and “to advance in the way of understanding”. Surely this is practical advice, yet easier said than done! St. Paul carries this theme even further in his letter to the Ephesians telling them, “to watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons, but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil”.

Scripture often portrays this theme that there are two very different approaches to life. On one hand, we have the way of the wise and virtuous person who chooses to do what is right and just. The other is the way of the fool, whose life is anything but virtuous. The author of this wisdom passage encourages us to choose wisely and make the most of the opportunity we have been given. 

Wisdom, we are told, enables us to grow in understanding so that we make the most of every opportunity. What a thought! Choices lead to results that have good or bad outcomes. In other words, Wisdom holds the secret to the quality of our life. Good decisions, good outcomes, good life. Bad choices... we know too well, from our own experiences, perhaps, where that path leads, don’t we?

Many today complain that our world is troubled and they fear that it will get worse. We have problems, to be sure. But fear and worry will do little to change that. On the other hand, Wisdom invites us today to embrace her and follow her advice to make most of the opportunity that we have been given. What opportunity? The opportunity, “to live in a manner worthy of the calling you have received”. (Eph 4:1) Yes, we live in troubled times; yes, there are plenty of problems, so much divisiveness, and the lack of civility. How are we to respond? By relying on Wisdom to lead us through these troubled waters and direct our efforts so we can help make this world a better place and advance the Kingdom of God on earth.

Scripture proclaims a “word to the wise” today. May God give us the grace and the wisdom to listen.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Satisfaction Guaranteed!

Deacon Tom Writes,

"Satisfaction Guaranteed”

Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, Year A

Can we ever be satisfied...with anything? We want faster, bigger, better, more of everything and we want it right now. We don’t want to wait to have it, or work long and hard to get it. And the message we hear loud and clear today is, “You can have it all!” “You can have it your way!” Tell tale signs that our expectations are not realistic.

Our spiritual senses, if they are well developed, will tune us in to the fact that there is a problem with our instant gratification mindset and warn us that this is not the natural order of things. No created thing, no human being can completely satisfy us or our hearts desires. It is only God who can satisfy the deepest longing of our hearts. Today we contemplate the wisdom of God as we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. God, the architect of the universe and all that exists within it, designed us to seek the ultimate good, which can only be found in Him. The Almighty has “hard wired” us, so to speak, thus enabling us to know Him so that our life’s journey would be a quest to discover Him in all created things and to put them all aside in favor of Him, the one and only giver of life and of all that is.

Those who were fortunate to hear Jesus speak about the Kingdom of God did not realize the gift they were being given, the bread of life, food that would satisfy completely. As Catholics there is no more profound mystery of faith than what we experience when we receive the Eucharist – the Son of God comes into our lives and dwells within us and satisfies us completely. God becomes, in a sense, the very fuel that energizes us to do our part to help Him establish the reign of God in our times, in our lives, and in our world.

That God would become really present in the bread and wine during the Consecration remains a difficult teaching today as it was when Jesus first revealed it. Recall how many walked away because this teaching was too difficult? Jesus asked the apostles, “Will you leave me also?” And Peter responded, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

The gift of the Eucharist reveals God’s desire to be a part of the very fiber of our lives. Let us thank Him for this special gift that we often take for granted and His faithfulness to His promise of "Satisfaction Guaranteed" for those who trust in His Word. 

Happy Fathers' Day to all the dads, granddads, and great granddads

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom