Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
Ever since Adam and Eve lost their friendship with God, God has wanted to restore his relationship with us. God has wanted to come back to us -- out of His great love for us.
So God became flesh in Christ – for nothing is impossible for God. We could not go to him, so God came to us in Christ!
And Christ remains with us in various ways, sacramentally and spiritually. Jesus is never far from us. Jesus abides in us, and we abide in him.
On this great solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, Catholics profess their faith that God can do the impossible by making Himself present under the signs of bread and wine. In this way God remains with His people in Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.
Jesus (Our Lord and God) is closest to us when we receive him in Holy Communion. We take him with us, quite literally within our bodies, wherever we go. He energizes our souls with his Eucharistic presence. He is our nourishment for eternity.
We believe that Jesus meant what he said:
“While they were eating,
(Jesus) took bread, said the blessing,
broke it, gave it to them, and said,
‘Take it; this is my body.’
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them,
and they all drank from it.
He said to them,
‘This is my blood of the covenant,
which will be shed for many’” (Mark 14:22-24)
Because we want to proclaim and celebrate the fact of the Lord’s Real Presence among us, tens of thousands of Catholics will gather in Indianapolis for a Eucharistic Congress in mid-July. I will be in attendance along with several hundred others from our diocese. It will be a great event!
In fact, the Eucharist is being processed to Indianapolis as we speak in four grand processions coming from different corners of our country, gathering many pilgrims along the way who want to walk with Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament. We are proclaiming that Jesus is with us! We are professing our faith in the Eucharist in a very public way.
You can also join with me on Monday, June 24 for a bi-lingual Eucharistic Revival Mass at 7PM in Akron’s Canal Park Stadium, followed by a public diocesan-wide Eucharistic Procession to St. Bernard’s Church for a time of praise and adoration. Fr. Rafael Capó, a Missionary of Mercy appointed by Pope Francis and National Eucharistic Preacher will be the homilist for this great event. Come and see the goodness of the Lord! Come and proclaim your belief that Jesus is made sacramentally present to us in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
More information and registration can be found here about this special June 24 Eucharistic Revival Mass and Procession at Canal Park Stadium here.
Have a blessed week everyone.