Our first reading today, from the Old Testament, from the prophet Zechariah speaks to us today about Joy, about Hope and about Peace – our first reading today speaks to us about Jesus – the Messiah, the Prince of Peace.
We are first called to Rejoice – because salvation is at hand, because in Jesus we will find justice, in Jesus there is hope and in Jesus we will find peace. Ultimately – whether in our lives or in our lifetime – good triumphs over evil.
This reading – 500 years before the birth of Christ – describes the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday – a King riding on an ass – a sign of peace.
Jesus is the fulfillment of the scriptures – He is the One. Imagine if you would – Jesus called His disciples and for three years He taught them. Jesus knew the scriptures. This reading from the prophet Zechariah is certainly one that Jesus would have explained, one he would have taught to His disciples.
Why – because this reading predicts – the coming of a King – but not just any King – the King of Peace – and that peace will not be just for the Israelites but for the whole world – He – the King of Peace – will proclaim peace to all the nations and His dominion will be from sea to sea – to all the ends of the earth.
And we are to REJOICE – because our savior has set us free.
Don’t let the world get you down – rejoice – rejoice always in the Lord. It’s not easy to do – it is much easier to feel sorry for yourself when misfortune comes your way – I know I used to – I used to ask the Lord why this and why that – but not anymore – I place my trust in the Lord – I place my faith in Him to work things out – and He does.
Do you know Jesus? Do you really know Jesus?
I think the difference – at least in me – was when I quit knowing about Jesus in my head and started knowing about Jesus in my heart. When I opened my eyes to the many blessings I have received – then – I could see Jesus working in my life.
Childhood memories … Hard times – living pay check to pay check – working 3 jobs to make ends meet – taking classes in the evenings to get my degree - the loss of our first child after 18 months and a miscarriage after that … but more than that which was bad enough – the sin and temptations in my life – that through the grace of God I have overcome …
The Joy, the Peace when you place all your Hope in Jesus … rejoice says the Lord – rejoice – your king has come and set you free.
Prayer of Abandonment
Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will. Whatever you may do, I thank you: I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures - I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands I commend my soul: I offer it to you with all the love of my heart, for I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into your hands without reserve, and with boundless confidence, for you are my Father.”
Do You Believe
Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Over 2000 years ago – we know that God’s plan for our salvation became flesh and blood when His only begotten Son was born of the Virgin Mary …
Today the Church celebrates that precious Flesh and Blood – the Eucharist – the most Holy Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ …
Today the Church celebrates the Bread of Life – that came down from Heaven – for God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son – born of a woman – so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life in Him …
Jesus – our Lord and Savior – humbled Himself – became flesh and blood – so that we might share in His divinity – and ever obedient to his Father – He gave up His life – accepting death on a cross – for us … for our salvation …
God knew that we had a debt that we couldn’t pay – that is why He sent His son into the world – not to condemn it, but that the world might be saved through Him – to restore our relationship with Him – Jesus knew that in time He would have to pay that debt and return to His Father – He also knew how weak we are – that we could never attain salvation without Him …
During His 3 years of public ministry Jesus prepared His disciples to carry on once he was gone. He performed many miracles and taught them many things…
He changed water into wine, He raised the dead back to life, He multiplied loaves and fish feeding thousands of people – these miracles were done so that we might believe in Him – but they were also done so that we might believe His most difficult teaching – for He said: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."
Many did not believe – many could not believe that we are to eat His flesh and drink His blood … many left His company and what did Jesus do – He let them go … He went on to say: Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.
There was no compromise here – Jesus let those followers who could not accept this teaching leave and He asked His disciples then and each of us today – do you also want to go? Do you also find this teaching to hard to accept? Do you believe that the Eucharist is the body, blood, soul and divinity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
The night before Jesus suffered – we know He instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper with His disciples – He changed bread and wine into His Body and Blood and they consumed it, and He commanded them to do this in memory of me … and that is what we do …
We know that in just a couple of minutes – Jesus acting through Father Ingles will change the bread and wine on the altar into His precious Body and Blood and we will consume it … but do we believe?
The person who participates in this Holy Sacrament – and does not believe brings only condemnation upon himself – and should not receive.
The person who participates in this Holy Sacrament and is not properly disposed – has not confessed his sins – is not in a state of grace – should not receive.
The person who has not fasted from food and drink for at least 1 hour before receiving Holy Communion – should not receive.
People who are not baptized – cannot receive.
Jesus continues today to humble Himself for us at every Mass – coming now not in the form of man but in the form of bread and wine – Jesus wants to be with us, He wants to be in us, He wants to nourish us spiritually; He wants to give us strength – because He knows how much we need Him; because He knows that without Him we can do nothing; because He loves us … because He doesn’t want to loose any one of us …
That is why it is so important that we attend Mass every Sunday and every Holy Day of Obligation – to obtain the strength we need to avoid sin or the near occasion of sin … but if we aren’t properly disposed – if we are in a state of sin and receive the Lord – the grace we receive in this sacrament is diminished – our sin is an impediment to Christ working in our lives.
If we are frustrated at our ability to avoid sin we must – go to confession often – confess that sin – and then we must receive Jesus – body, blood, soul and divinity – often.
Going to confession occasionally and going to Mass occasionally does not work and for most people going to Mass every Sunday is just not enough – search your hearts – you know this to be true.
Don’t fool yourself – don’t compare yourself to others thinking well I am better than this one or that one – compare yourself to Christ – and we all fall short of Him – do we love like He did – do we sacrifice like He did – do we forgive like He did – because that is what we are called to do.
Jesus said: Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."
Amen!
Over 2000 years ago – we know that God’s plan for our salvation became flesh and blood when His only begotten Son was born of the Virgin Mary …
Today the Church celebrates that precious Flesh and Blood – the Eucharist – the most Holy Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ …
Today the Church celebrates the Bread of Life – that came down from Heaven – for God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son – born of a woman – so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life in Him …
Jesus – our Lord and Savior – humbled Himself – became flesh and blood – so that we might share in His divinity – and ever obedient to his Father – He gave up His life – accepting death on a cross – for us … for our salvation …
God knew that we had a debt that we couldn’t pay – that is why He sent His son into the world – not to condemn it, but that the world might be saved through Him – to restore our relationship with Him – Jesus knew that in time He would have to pay that debt and return to His Father – He also knew how weak we are – that we could never attain salvation without Him …
During His 3 years of public ministry Jesus prepared His disciples to carry on once he was gone. He performed many miracles and taught them many things…
He changed water into wine, He raised the dead back to life, He multiplied loaves and fish feeding thousands of people – these miracles were done so that we might believe in Him – but they were also done so that we might believe His most difficult teaching – for He said: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."
Many did not believe – many could not believe that we are to eat His flesh and drink His blood … many left His company and what did Jesus do – He let them go … He went on to say: Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.
There was no compromise here – Jesus let those followers who could not accept this teaching leave and He asked His disciples then and each of us today – do you also want to go? Do you also find this teaching to hard to accept? Do you believe that the Eucharist is the body, blood, soul and divinity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
The night before Jesus suffered – we know He instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper with His disciples – He changed bread and wine into His Body and Blood and they consumed it, and He commanded them to do this in memory of me … and that is what we do …
We know that in just a couple of minutes – Jesus acting through Father Ingles will change the bread and wine on the altar into His precious Body and Blood and we will consume it … but do we believe?
The person who participates in this Holy Sacrament – and does not believe brings only condemnation upon himself – and should not receive.
The person who participates in this Holy Sacrament and is not properly disposed – has not confessed his sins – is not in a state of grace – should not receive.
The person who has not fasted from food and drink for at least 1 hour before receiving Holy Communion – should not receive.
People who are not baptized – cannot receive.
Jesus continues today to humble Himself for us at every Mass – coming now not in the form of man but in the form of bread and wine – Jesus wants to be with us, He wants to be in us, He wants to nourish us spiritually; He wants to give us strength – because He knows how much we need Him; because He knows that without Him we can do nothing; because He loves us … because He doesn’t want to loose any one of us …
That is why it is so important that we attend Mass every Sunday and every Holy Day of Obligation – to obtain the strength we need to avoid sin or the near occasion of sin … but if we aren’t properly disposed – if we are in a state of sin and receive the Lord – the grace we receive in this sacrament is diminished – our sin is an impediment to Christ working in our lives.
If we are frustrated at our ability to avoid sin we must – go to confession often – confess that sin – and then we must receive Jesus – body, blood, soul and divinity – often.
Going to confession occasionally and going to Mass occasionally does not work and for most people going to Mass every Sunday is just not enough – search your hearts – you know this to be true.
Don’t fool yourself – don’t compare yourself to others thinking well I am better than this one or that one – compare yourself to Christ – and we all fall short of Him – do we love like He did – do we sacrifice like He did – do we forgive like He did – because that is what we are called to do.
Jesus said: Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."
Amen!
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