Dear Parish Family,

Reflecting on today’s Gospel of Mark, imagine ourselves being present at the original Last Supper as one of the followers of Jesus. Imagine further, if Jesus chose one of our houses to celebrate the Seder?  Clearly, Jesus picked someone’s house who he could trust perhaps to ensure that his Passover celebration would not be interrupted prematurely by his betrayer and his conspirators. He gave specific instructions of preparation to his disciples which had an element of confidentiality and importance.  Jesus had something more to do before he willingly gave himself up to the authorities for his sacrifice on the cross. He wanted to leave his beloved disciples with an enduring gift, the Eucharist, the bread of life, for all eternity before entering into his Passion and Resurrection in fulfillment of his Divine ministry on earth.

How blessed was the “master of the house” in this passage to be a trusted friend and obvious follower of Our Lord? Would we feel blessed if Our Lord entrusted us with a special request to spread his salvific mission and message? How would we prepare our house if we were informed “the Teacher” is coming? In fact, as Christians, we get to live this trusted relationship everyday of our lives. Jesus trusts us to bring his love and Good News of salvation to others. Do we reciprocate with his unconditional love in measure? “Jesus, I trust in you” is the powerful message of Divine Mercy. It serves to remind us that we are continually strengthened along the way in our faith journey, in our success and happiness, in our trials, fears and disappointments by always relying on the saving graces of Our Lord who loves us unconditionally. What an awesome spiritual guide and power we have been given through the love of Christ and his Church.

Additionally, we get the opportunity through the sacraments, particularly in the soulful healing and redemptive cleansing grace of Reconciliation, to properly prepare our “house”, our bodily temples, to receive the Lord in Holy Communion at every Mass. Do we reflect often enough on this wonderful relationship we have with Jesus and on his inestimable love for us? Or do we perhaps not place as much importance as it is deserving of? What are we reflecting on as we receive our Lord in the Eucharist? After all, nothing we have done is deserving of God’s love and sacrifice on the cross. Quite the contrary, it is because of our sins that Christ died and rose from the dead in full payment to the Father for our transgressions against him.

We all have someone special - perhaps several people - who we thoroughly enjoy, rely on and are grateful for in our lives. I like to think of Jesus as a favorite relative or reliable friend in my life. Someone whose caring and friendship I don’t deserve but somehow I am connected with and who makes my life and others better and more meaningful. We might ask ourselves, are we someone special, an esteemed relative or friend who makes a positive impact in another person’s life? And how much of that love bestowed to another is a brilliant reflection of Christ’s love and blessings in ours and an invitation for them to share in God’s love and benevolent graces by also trusting in Him?
In doing so, we carry out our baptismal vows and the central mission of the Church, with Jesus as its Head, as celebrated today in the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, following faithfully his commandment to love one another as he once and for all time loves us.  “The Body of Christ” - Amen.

Dcn John Cunningham