In Last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us that in life we all have choices to make. But following Jesus forever, must be the goal which directs our steps.
The First Reading describes what happened once the Chosen People entered the Promised Land. God had been forming them for forty years in the desert and now Joshua gathered the tribes together and made them choose whom they were going to serve. The gods of their ancestors or the Lord? They all said:
We will serve the Lord because He is our God.
St Paul in the Second Reading reminds us that service implies being subordinate to another He takes marriage for an example.
God created two genders, male and female He created them, and He said go forth multiply and fill the earth (Gen: 5:2).
The two genders, male and female were thus created by God complementary in nature, and just as Jesus is Head of the Church, so the husband is head of the family. The wife should thus be subordinate to the husband. In addition, as there is no daylight between Jesus and His Church, so there should not be between husband and wife. In the sacrament of Holy Matrimony, the couple receive the grace to perfect and elevate their love for each other.
In last Sunday’s Gospel we see the culmination and aftermath of Jesus’ teaching on the Eucharist which we have been hearing in the Sunday Gospels over the past few weeks. Many of the disciples were struggling to accept this teaching. This is because it required more than understanding, it required an act of Faith. Judas was one of those who did not believe. Due to their weak faith, many of the disciples stopped following Jesus. So, the Lord turned to the Twelve and asked:
What about you, do you want to go away too?
But Simon Peter as leader of the Twelve said:
Lord who shall we go to? You have the message of eternal life. We believe and we know that You are the Holy One of God.
So, the Apostles chose again to follow Jesus. What would have become of them without Him? For life without Christ, would be life without meaning. We have all said Yes to Christ, this is why we are here at Mass today. We have embraced the Truth, Life and Love. The Eucharist is the Sacrament of Love.
Last Sunday was a very special day at the Divine Mercy Shrine in Chittering for those making their First Holy Communion. These candidates have been waiting a long time and are very excited today to receive Jesus in Holy Communion for the first time. They are looking very smart in their best clothes, but more importantly they have been preparing their hearts to meet Jesus, by making their First Confession during the week. Now Jesus will come and enter their hearts in Holy Communion.
It reminds me of the story of a very small girl in Ireland Nellie Organ (known as Nellie of Holy God), who was born in 1903 in Waterford. She was disabled due to spinal injuries suffered as a baby, when she was accidently dropped, she was also suffering from tuberculosis. Remarkably however, she had already reached the age of reason by the time she was four and she had a great desire to receive Holy Communion.
A Priest, Fr Bury asked her one day: What is Holy Communion?
She replied: It is Holy God.
Then, when she was asked what would happen if she was permitted to receive Holy Communion.
She replied: Jesus will rest on my tongue and then He will go down into my heart.
This was the perfect answer. Fr. Bury then realized that Nellie, although only four years and three months, met all the criteria necessary to receive Holy Communion. At that time, children had to wait until the age of twelve to receive Jesus in Holy Communion. Fr. Bury heard her Confession and contacted the bishop of Cork for permission to give her Holy Communion. The bishop agreed. At the moment of her First Communion, which she received in a transport of love, Nellie’s features shone as if the presence of the great light in her heart reflected itself in her face.
When Pope Pius X heard about little Nellie, he realised that this was the sign he had been waiting for to lower the age for Holy Communion from twelve to seven (the usual age of reason). On August 15, 1910, Pope Pius X published his encyclical Quam Singulari encouraging early and frequent Holy Communion for children.
After Mass today there will be a celebration in the Parish Hall for the children and families. They will also receive gifts. Then they will then go home to a special lunch with the parents, grandparents and other members of the extended family. It really is a day to celebrate. But the greatest gift you have received today children, is Jesus coming to you in Holy Communion.
Good strong Catholic families are so important for the formation of children. Devotions such as the Family Rosary are really irreplaceable, and so called for by so many of Popes. No matter how busy it becomes in family life, quality time must be set aside for common prayer and Grace before and after meals. In this way, children grow in the virtue of prayerfulness from an early age.
The Commandments of God with the Laws and Teachings of the Authentic Magisterium of the Church are like sign posts to follow to reach our destination in Heaven. Let’s aim to follow Jesus every day and make the Mass the centre of our lives, not only attending on Sundays, but weekdays also where possible. Try also to make a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament at least weekly. For the Lord is there in the Blessed Sacrament with His Sacred Heart beating for love of you. Reflect also on the Word of God in the Scriptures, because only the Lord has the message of Eternal life. Praise be Jesus truly present in the Sacrament of love!