Become What You Receive

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Deacon Tom Writes ©

“Become What You Receive”

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year B

(Corpus Christi)

“Behold what you are, become what you receive!”  These words of wisdom from St. Augustine are intended to help us thoughtfully receive Holy Eucharist.  They have been used to help us understand this central mystery of our faith from as far back as the middle of the fourth century. It is a daunting command. It causes us to think about the Sacrament we are receiving.  “Become Christ-like!”   Isn’t that what being a disciple of Christ is all about? 

Our Catholic Faith puts the Eucharist at the center of our faith. It is, according to our teaching, “the source and summit of our faith”.  This is made evident in the Feast we celebrate today, The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ also referred to as The Feast of Corpus Christi.

We are a sacramental people. Our spiritual well-being depends upon our participation in the sacramental life of the church and the grace that is derived from those sacraments. The image of Jesus gathering his disciples into a table fellowship is pure genius. We come to the table when we are hungry, when we need to be nourished. This is the reality of our human existence. Jesus takes the ordinary and gives it an extraordinary meaning by calling us to the table to be spiritually nourished, to have our spiritual hunger satisfied and to be united to him in a communion of hearts and desires….

Our unique Catholic understanding of the Eucharist is that it is in essence the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ. When we receive Holy Communion, we truly become one with Christ. It is a very special moment, a time for us to reflect on Christ dwelling within us, for us to be in awe that the maker of heaven and earth would come and abide in us.  Even more amazing is the fact that this is his plan, not ours!

Yes, “we are what we eat,” nutritionist tells us. The challenge we face as Catholics is to follow the instructions of St. Augustine and to “behold what we are and to become what we receive”, members of the one body of Christ who has become for us our spiritual food, the Bread of Life.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Shepherd Me, O God

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Deacon Tom writes ©

Shepherd Me, O God

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year B

One of the songs in the Hymnal is based on the 23^rd Psalm and carries the refrain, “Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life”.  This beautiful melody helps us draw upon the rich imagery of a “good” shepherd, one who keeps the flock safe and secure, even when dangers abound.  The idea of a good shepherd, unfortunately, seems to have folded into the pages of history as our society has progressed from its early ranching days into the age of high-tech.  Yet, it seems from some recent events that we still long to have good shepherds in our midst, watching over us, shepherds who put the needs and cares of others before their own.

Several memorable examples come to mind.  The first is that of Estella Pyfrom, a guidance counselor in Palm Beach County, Florida.  She was aware that many students did not have access to a computer after school. Coming from poorer families, she recognized that this was a serious problem. Her solution: she took her life savings and bought a bus, filled it with computers, and brought technology to the kids.  Her mobile computer lab called “Estella's Brilliant Bus” has provided free, computer-based tutoring for thousands of students since 2011.  To the many students who have received essential computer skills that promise to enhance the quality of their lives, Estella Pyfrom is truly a “good shepherd”.

Then there is Danielle Gletow who notices that Foster children go without so many ordinary things that children who grow up in biological families often take for granted.  Her solution: she has created an online site where the wishes of Foster children are posted so the public can help grant them. "I'm here to be the mom to all these kids who might not feel like they have one," she said. Since 2008, her group has helped grant more than 6,500 wishes in 42 states.

These ongoing acts of kindness give us the extraordinary witness of two individuals who went to incredible lengths to improve the lives of others in need. You can call them “good shepherds” because their primary concern was the well-being of others, the strangers in our midst.

Christ remains for us, of course, the eternal “Good Shepherd”, the one who laid down his life for us.  The Lord told us three things about the true shepherd:  he gives his own life for his sheep; he knows them and they know him; he keeps the flock together.

While Jesus is the true shepherd calling us to the one fold, those who follow him can easily recognize that there are times when we are called to shepherd others.  These recent experiences of Estella Pyfrom and Danielle Gletow are extreme cases for sure.  But, in the ordinary course of our day, we too have many opportunities to be shepherds to those around us.  We share in the ministry of Christ, the Good Shepherd, when we share Christ with others by reaching out to those who are lonely or sick; when we welcome the stranger or feed the hungry; when we forgive those who have hurt us; when we work to break down the barriers that divide us so that we may become one in Christ.  We participate most in being good shepherds when we… “deliver others beyond their wants, beyond their fears, from death into life”, as Jesus so often does for us.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom