Homily, The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, December 27, 2015

Good morning and Merry Christmas. Since I’ve been serving as a deacon my family usually comes to church a little later than me.  I need to arrive early for Mass to prepare, so my wife, Linda, and son, Ryan, drive separately.   I also have to stay longer after Mass, so Linda and Ryan usually go home together well before I leave.   This is our normal routine on most Sundays, but a few years ago on Christmas both Linda and I had to be here early.  We gave Ryan the option of coming early with us or waiting for his sister to pick him up later.  Of course he waited for his sister.  After Mass both Linda and I stayed to help clean up, since we knew Ryan would be coming home with his sister.  At least that’s what we thought. When we arrived home our daughters were there, but not Ryan.   There was a little miscommunication on who was bringing him home.   We had a little bit of a panic, but within a few minutes Ryan called from the church asking for a ride home.  Linda was already on the way back to get him and was relieved to hear he was there. Now I can say we definitely have something in common with Holy Family.

         Today we heard the story about the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. I really like this story because it shows us that even the Holy Family had its challenges.   This story from Luke is the only one in the Gospels that gives us a glimpse of Jesus’ life between the infancy and his public ministry.  I’d like to focus on three things in the story about Jesus: his age, his response to his parents, and his parents’ response to him.  

         We are told in the story that the Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover when Jesus was twelve years old.   Why would Jesus’ parents not have noticed he was gone until a day after they left? Jesus, being twelve years old, was at an age transition from childhood to adolescence. In the Jewish culture men and women would travel separately. Children traveled with their mothers, both boys and girls.  When boys reached the age of puberty they would transition to be with the men.  This was a rough transition them.   They were forced from the nurturing environment of their mothers to harsh world of adulthood with their fathers. Jesus may have initially traveled with the Joseph and the group of men to Jerusalem, but Joseph may have thought that Jesus’ absence on the way back was just a temporary return to the comfort of his mother.   Mary may have proudly thought that Jesus was traveling with the men, which was appropriate for his age.  Since the men and women traveled separately Jesus’ absence went unnoticed till they came together late in the day.

         Since Mary and Joseph had traveled a full day, it would have taken another full day to return back to Jerusalem, and left the third day to find him. They finally found him among the teachers in the temple listening and answering questions.  In her

distress Mary asks Jesus: “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” Jesus speaks for the first time in Luke’s Gospel telling them, “Why were you looking for me?  Did you not know that I must be in my father’s house?  Jesus revealed his identity and vocation as the Son of God.  This had been revealed to Mary and Joseph by the angel, but they may not have fully understood what Jesus meant at the time.   Jesus obediently keeps the commandment to honor his mother and father and returns to Nazareth.   Jesus reveals his divine nature as the Son of God and also responds lovingly in his human nature by obedience to his parents.

         There is very little said about the response of Jesus parents, but there are some things we can conclude.   Mary’s response to Jesus was one of patience and gentleness in a very trying situation. She was modeling the human virtue’s we all strive for but struggle with.   I don’t think I would respond as gently as she did.   In fact I know that I wouldn’t.   Maybe Luke did a little editing of what really transpired, but I don’t think so.   I think he wrote it just as it happened to show us a model of how a holy family should respond, in virtue and charity. Mary and Joseph show us how to live by their actions.

         How can we be holy families?  The Church calls families the “Domestic Church”.   The family is where we first learn to grow in virtues and faith.  We all have challenges in our families, but it gives us the opportunity to grow in virtues.  It’s where we learn to practice patience, kindness, love, and forgiveness as St. Paul instructed the Colossians.   The family is a community of grace and prayer in the midst of our homes, at play, and at work.   It’s also when we gather families together weekly in worship to be with our faith family as a community at church.     

         Being a holy family is also encouraging each of our family members to discover who God wants us to be.   A lot of people think that being holy is sitting in a church praying all the time.   That’s not what being holy is about. It’s discovering the gifts God have given you and how to use them to glorify Him and to serve our neighbor. What can families to do encourage us to be holy?   By making some time together to ask God who he is calling us to be. Some of us may be called to a life of silent prayer, but most of us are called to marriage and being mothers and fathers.  Some of us may be called to serve as ordained ministers as priests or deacons and others as religious brothers or sisters.  Others may be called to be single and dedicated to serving others in a special way. 

We’ve recently started a vocations awareness prayer ministry for families to pray together.

(To read all the details about this prayer ministry see:  Be Our Guest / Zoe Cannon A Call to Love: Vocation Awareness).  Each week a family will be the host for a traveling Crucifix and pray for about vocations for a week. My family will be praying for this week. Why not consider signing up your family to discover their call to holiness in the coming year.

As we come together to continue our celebration of the Eucharist may we be filled with the joy of this Christmas Season and strive to follow example of the Holy Family in being the people that God has called us all to be.

          

Deacon Steve's Homily: Christ is our King Now and Forever, Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe – B

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King.

This is the last Sunday of our liturgical year.

The official title is ‘The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe’

It was established less than a hundred years ago by Pope Pius XI in 1925.

Pope Pius saw the need for this Solemnity because of current events.

World War I had recently ended and the world, especially Europe, was trying to recover from the ravages of war.

The Russian Bolshevik Revolution had given birth to the world's first openly atheistic regime and Soviet communism was born.

Everywhere the pope looked, he saw humanity abandoning Christian values and trying to build paradise on earth through other means.

These other means didn’t work; their results were tragic.

Pope Pius XI wanted to remind the world that Christ is the only king that truly matters for all humanity.

Following Christ in all areas of our lives will bring about the paradise that all of us long for and were created for.  

<pause>

Our readings today remind us of the kingship of Jesus.

In our first reading, we hear Daniel prophesy:

‘the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.’

We then hear in our second reading from the book of Revelation:

‘Jesus Christ is the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth.’

That would make Jesus the King of all kings.

And this theme of kingship continues in John’s gospel:

‘So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?"
Jesus answered, "You say I am a king.
For this I was born and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’

<pause>

My friends, our readings remind us that Christ is King and He has a kingdom.

And the prayers from today’s liturgy invite us to fix our eyes and our ears on Christ, the King of the Universe. 

Have you ever noticed that each Sunday and feast day we have different prayers that we pray during our liturgies?

-       the Collect or the opening prayer

-       the Prayer over the Offerings

-       the Preface

-       the Closing prayer.

They are unique to the feast, they’re beautiful, and they remind us of our Catholic beliefs.

There is a principal in Catholicism known as ‘Lex Orandi Lex Credendi’.

 This is Latin and it means: ‘The order of prayer is the order of belief.’

In other words, ‘we pray what we believe and we believe what we pray’.

Fr. Steve will pray these words in today’s Preface that remind us that Christ is King and what that kingdom truly is:

“ For you anointed your Only Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, with the oil of gladness as eternal Priest and King of all creation … a universal kingdom, a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace”. 

So this prayer reminds us that we believe that Christ is our King.

And His kingdom sounds pretty good to me, wouldn’t you agree?

-       A kingdom of truth and life rather than lies and death.

-       A kingdom of holiness and grace rather than sinfulness and despair.

-       A kingdom of justice, love and peace, rather than injustice, hatred and war.

By placing Christ in his proper place as king of the Universe and by following him in all areas of our life, we join his kingdom now and forever. 

<pause>

Today I completed a novena to Christ the King.

 A novena is 9 days of prayer leading up to a feast or an event.

The first novena was 9 days of prayer by Mary and the apostles before Pentecost. 

I’d like to share a beautiful prayer from this novena:

Christ, our Savior and our King, renew in me allegiance to Your Kingship.
- I pray for the grace to place You above the powers of this world in all things.
- I pray for the grace to obey You before any civic authority.
- I pray for the grace to fervently bring about Your Kingdom in my family and community.
- I pray that You will reign in my mind.
- I pray that You will reign in my heart.
- I pray that You will reign in my will.
- I pray that You will reign in my body.
- I pray that You will reign throughout all the world.
- I pray that You will reign in every area of my life.

O Prince of Peace, may Your reign be complete in my life and in the life of the world.  Amen.

My friends, Christ is our King!

May we follow Christ our King now and forever!

Is Christ our King? - Homily, 34th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Christ the King of the Universe – Cycle B– 11/22/15

         As we come to the end of the Church year the readings look to the future when Christ will return again in triumphant glory as our king.   We are told that all in the world will see him, both his subjects and those who aren’t. There are some who will be joyful and some who will be fearful.  Christ’s kingdom will come and will last forever.  This is what we all long for and hope for.   The prophecies we heard from Daniel and Revelation were written in times of great persecution.    In Daniel the Seleucid’s were persecuting the Jews and in Revelation the Christian’s were undergoing the wrath of Nero.  The people were in need of hope, a savior to come and rescue them.   These prophecies both pointed toward the final coming of Christ to reign in his Kingdom.

         We may feel like we’re in need of our savior to come again with all the troubles going on in the world.   Last week the tragic bombing by ISIS terrorist in Paris rocked the world.  Previously there was the crash of the Russian Jet that killed hundreds.  We hear about the hundreds of thousands of people displaced from their homes in the Middle East due to persecution for their faith, many of which are Christians.   Now, in our own state we hear about refusal to allow these persecuted refugees from moving here for fear of the safety of its citizens. If Christ is truly the King of the Universe why are all these troubles going on in the world?   I guess we really need to ask: is Christ really King?

         In the Gospel today we hear Pilate ask Jesus a similar question: Are you King of the Jews?  Jesus responds to Pilate, but it may not have been what he expected:

“My kingdom does not belong to this world.  If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.  But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Jesus indirectly answers that he is king, but not of this world.

Pilate asks Jesus again: “Then you are a king?” Jesus responds: “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” Jesus came into the world to bring us the truth.  Jesus is Truth.  His kingdom is truth.  Jesus told us “I am the way, the truth, and the Life”.   His kingdom is a kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, justice love and peace. 

        

         So while Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world, his kingdom is in this world through his loyal subjects.  Who are his subjects?  We are, those baptized into his Church.  Jesus taught us how to live in this world through our faith in him.  How do we follow Jesus in being his loyal subjects?  Jesus’ response to Pilate tells us:  “Everyone who belongs to the truth, listens to my voice”.

Do we listen to Jesus’ voice and believe that he is our king? Or do we only hear him and choose what we want to listen to? The concept of a king can be very foreign to us living in the USA. We’re used to freely choosing what we feel is best for our own personal situation. We select our government leaders that we feel best to do the job, and can choose another if they don’t.  But when we make a choice do we do so based on truth, or how we think or feel?  Following the Truth is what truly gives us freedom.

If Jesus is our King we need to listen to him because he speaks the truth.  The truth that he speaks of is the love of God and neighbor as yourself. It is the living out of the Beatitudes.   If we want to be part of his kingdom and conquer the world we need to follow the way Jesus.   Jesus does not rule by domination, but humble service and sacrifice. Jesus way of life is the perfect example of how to live in the world, but not to be of the world. 

We live in a world that is full of injustices, persecutions, and tragedies. We can expect these things to happen because it’s an imperfect world. Jesus’ Kingdom is not fully here yet, but we can make it a better place by living as loyal subjects of Christ, King of the Universe.   What are some ways we can do this?  By being patient and kind when others annoy us at home, school, work, and even on the road.   We can offer a smile or kind word when some appears to be lonely or having a bad day.  Prayers can be offered for one another, especially those who are persecuted.  We can ask for Holy Spirit’s wisdom to seek the truth in choosing our leaders. 

As we enter into Advent let’s make a commitment to make Christ the King of our lives by choosing to listen to him and live the Truth that he gives us.  As we come forward to receive the Eucharist let’s ask God for the grace to make Christ the King of our lives.  God bless you.     

           

God's grace and eternal life - Homily, 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time – Cycle B– 10/11/15

         What must I do to inherit eternal life? This is the question that Jesus was asked by the man in the Gospel today.   Jesus’ response was very direct: Sell all you have and give to the poor and then follow me.  Did Jesus’ answer make any of you a little uncomfortable? I’ll have to admit it did make me feel a bit uncomfortable.  I’ve got a nice house, cars, and money saved up for retirement for my wife and I and college savings for my son.   Is Jesus asking me to give up all that I have in order to follow him?

         The man in the story was too attached to his possessions, and Jesus knew that. His possessions were more important than following God. He was greedy and wasn’t willing to share his possessions with God or others.  His possessions possessed him. That’s why Jesus asked him to sell all to give to the poor. Unfortunately the man was unwilling to give up his possessions, and went away sad.

         Is this passage one that we all need to take literally?   Do we need to sell everything we have and give to the poor?   Maybe a few are called to do so, but most of us have our families to take care of.  We need to earn and save money and own some things for the well being of our families and dedicate some to take care of the poor.   Some of us may own businesses and need resources to maintain and grow so we can provide goods, services, and employment that helps others.  If we’ve been blessed with abundant resources it’s ok, as long as we put some of them to good use in helping others.  But we need to ask: are there things in our lives that possess us that keep us from following Jesus?  

         Our possessions can make it very hard to enter the kingdom of God.   We can become too reliant on our own resources and abilities and feel like we don’t need to depend on God.  We may be totally focused on keeping up with Joneses: getting a bigger house, buying a new car, or wearing the latest fashions and not to concerned about our relationship with God. We may be too involved in our job, leisure activities, or have habits that prevent us from fully following Jesus. We can make these “things” our “god” and be possessed by them.

         Jesus tells us that it’s hard to enter the kingdom of God for those who have wealth.   How hard is it? It would easier for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.   Wow.  This sounds impossible to do.  I guess none of us will make it into God’s kingdom if we have to rely on our own capabilities.   But Jesus tells us that, “with God all things are possible”. 

         He’s telling us that if we put God first in our life, IT WILL be possible to enter God’s kingdom.  The only way we will be able to do this is through God’s grace.  There’s not anything we can do on our own to inherit eternal life.  It’s a gift that only God can give.  By having a relationship with Jesus and following him it will open us up to God’s grace.  But we need to make a commitment to put Jesus first in our life and follow him.

         One way to follow Jesus is to simplify our lives.  We have too many distractions in our busy lives. We have a model to follow in living a simpler life and putting God first by a few men named Francis: Our patron St. Francis, and Pope Francis.  St. Francis lived a life of wealth and luxury in his younger days, but was called to give up all to live a life of radical poverty serving the poor in whom he saw Jesus.    He publicly relinquished all of his family wealth and even gave away his clothing relying on the providence of God. Eight centuries later his way of life continues with tens of thousands Franciscan religious and many more laypersons following his simple way of life. 

         Pope Francis has called us to live more simply in his recent encyclical, “Laudato Si.” He warns us not to fall into the consumerism mentality of the culture.  We don’t always need to have the latest smart phone or newest car.  It’s better for us to be consumed with a relationship with God rather than always wanting more. 

         If we give up what possesses us and follow Jesus what will we get?   Jesus tells us that we will receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brother and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.   How is this so? Through our brothers and sisters in Christ, which is all of you here.  Through our numerous church, schools, hospitals, and charitable ministries throughout the world. 

         Jesus added that persecutions are to be expected as well.  It may be a simple as being mocked at work or school for our beliefs, or it could be as serious as being forced from our homes and country like many of the refugees in the Middle East.  Even though we may be persecuted we need to remember that Jesus said we’d also receive eternal life in the age to come.

         Is there something keeping you from following Jesus?  Are your possessions getting in the way? Is there some habit or activity that keeps you from putting Christ first in your life?  If so why not make a commitment to change.   If you’re struggling to do this, don’t rely on yourself.  Pray for God’s grace to help.   Reach out to your brothers and sisters in Christ and ask them for support.  If Christ is first in your life offer thanks to God and pray for the grace to keep the relationship strong.  As we continue Mass lets offer thanks to God for grace we receive through Eucharist and for help it provides to put Christ first in our lives. God bless you.

        

The Spirit works through us and where God wishes to bring love and mercy - Homily, 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time – Cycle B– 9/27/15

I’d like to start out today recalling part of the opening prayer: that God Manifest His almighty power above all by pardoning and showing mercy, and bestowing his grace abundantly. This prayer is very fitting as Pope Francis visits our country this week for the World Meeting of Families.  Pope Francis has declared this upcoming Church year, as a year of Mercy.  I think his visit here is helping to usher in a spirit of Mercy through all the People of God.

Our first reading and the Gospel have a common theme of God bestowing his grace through the Spirit, but our human nature presents some challenges.   In the Gospel John came to Jesus complaining about others “who do not follow us” driving out demons.  John is jealous of others doing good works in Jesus name, because they’re not part of the inner circle of the disciples.  His complaint is that they’re “not one of us”. In a similar situation Joshua complains to Moses about Eldad and Medad prophesying. They weren’t present when God’s spirit came upon the seventy elders.  Joshua requests Moses to stop them.  Both John and Joshua had the attitude they were the exclusive ones to carry out the work of God.

We need to be careful not to fall into this mindset.  As Catholics we may sometimes think we have exclusivity on carrying out good works in Jesus’ name.  We may not be open to working with others faith tradition because they’re “not one us”.  As Catholic’s the Spirit is bestowed on us at Baptism and enables us extend God’s love and mercy.  We’re reminded of this when we ask for a portion of the Lord’s spirit to come upon us when we he hear in Mass: “The Lord be with you” and we respond: “And with your Spirit”.    Our Lord Jesus is present in us through the Holy Spirit. But we need to remember that God can also extend the Holy Spirit to those he wishes.

Jesus responds to John that “no one performs a mighty deed in His name who can at the same time speak ill of me”, and that, “whoever is not against us is for us”.   He is affirming that the power to do good works in his name is not exclusive to the small circle of the disciples.  Jesus tells them, “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because they belong to Christ will surely not lose their reward.”  Moses as well responds to the Joshua’s complaints: “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets! Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!”  Both Jesus and Moses testify to John and Joshua that God’s work is not exclusive to their inner circles, but also to those whom God chooses to work through. 

Pope Francis appeals to people of many faiths and even those of no faith who aspire for the common good of all God’s people.  I think his example of being a humble servant

CNS/Paul Haring

outreaching to those most in need of love and mercy is what inspires others.  During the pope’s visit he’s making time to visit a prison. On Sunday he’ll be at the Curran Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia.  The inmates there are Muslims, Christians, and some of no faith.  Some of them helped to build a special chair for Pope Francis.  The Pope, making time to visit, will surely inspire them and give them hope. It will show that they are important and have value as being God’s children. Many of these men and women have never had love or mercy ever extended to them in their entire lives.

I’ve been involved with jail & prison ministry in my works of charity.

This has really opened up my eyes to the working of the Holy Spirit in people of many faith traditions through Kairos prison ministry.   Kairos is an ecumenical ministry to men and women in prisons throughout the world.  The Kairos teams present retreats over a weekend similar to Christ Renews His Parish.  The teams are made up of laypersons and clergy of various Christian faith traditions.   Their goal is to introduce the inmates to the person of Jesus who extends love and mercy to them. Listen, Listen, Love, Love is the theme of the presenting team, which totally focuses on showing love to the participants. 

I’ve had the privilege of serving on one retreat weekend, which required months of preparation. A majority of the presenting team was of other faith traditions.   I must admit feeling a little apprehensive being in the minority as a Catholic and maybe even a little jealous of the other faith traditions   As the weekend progressed I could genuinely see the working of the Holy Spirit in both the presenters and the participants.    At the weekend’s conclusion I witnessed the unsolicited personal testimony of one of the most unlikely participants who shared his encounter with the love of mercy of Christ.  It’s amazing what the Holy Spirit can accomplish through those formally baptized and those whom God wishes to pour his grace on abundantly.  

As we proceed to receive the Eucharist let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us share God’s love and mercy and to recognize the Spirit working in others to build up God’s kingdom bringing Christ to those most in need.

God bless you.

Deacon Steve's Homily - Listening to God - 21st Sunday Ordinary – B

A few weeks ago I had the honor of taking part in a mass presided by a Cardinal.

Cardinal Edwin O’Brien is a past Archbishop of Baltimore and of the Military.

Currently he is the Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

Cardinal O’Brien resides in Rome as he carries out his duties.

One of those duties is to take part in papal conclaves to elect a new pope.

Cardinal O’Brien was part of the conclave a few years ago that elected Pope Francis.

During his homily at the mass a few weeks ago, the Cardinal shared a few of his experiences at that conclave.

He told the congregation that all of the Cardinals gathered on the first day and were seated around tables discussing who they thought our next Pope should be.

He said that there were many names brought up with no clear consensus.

In fact, there were almost as many names as there were attendees.

That evening, the Cardinals gathered for prayer to ask God to open their hearts and minds to the will of God.

The prayer went on for hours before they finally retired for the evening.

Cardinal O’Brien shared that the next morning when he awoke the name Jorge Bergoglio was on his mind.

He said that prior to that he didn’t even know who Jorge Bergoglio was.

The Cardinal said that as they were walking to the conclave, there was a mist hovering over the ground that seemed extraordinary.

When the Cardinals gathered, there was an overwhelming peace and sense among many of the Cardinals that one man should be our next Pope.

That man was Jorge Bergoglio, a Cardinal from Argentina.

What a contrast from the first to the second day of the conclave.

After intense prayer and listening to God, the Cardinals voted and elected Jorge Bergoglio as Pope.

Cardinal O’Brien told the congregation that this man was handpicked by God to be our Pope,

to be our pope for this particular time and place in the history of our church and world.  

<pause>

What a great example of listening to God, of listening to the Holy Spirit.

My friends, who is it that we listen to?

We may need to listen to others when seeking advice for finances, what kind of car to buy, what school to attend, or how to deal with a certain situation.

Of course, there are many other areas in which we seek advice and need to listen. 

We seek advice from family, from friends, from professionals, and from our pastors.

As I reflected on today’s readings, I thought about who it is that we listen to.

In our first reading, Joshua challenges the people of Israel to make a decision about who they were going to serve.

He  says to them: ‘Decide today whom you will serve. The Lord our God, or the gods of the Amorites?’  ‘Which is it going to be?’

He then goes on to say: ‘For me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’

Now that was great advice!

The people listened to Joshua and answered: ‘We also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.’

The people made the right choice, didn’t they? They listened to Joshua and followed his advice.

The last few weeks we have been reading from John’s Gospel - what’s known as the Bread of Life discourse.

Jesus made some radical statements about the Eucharist – about eating his body and drinking his blood. 

These were difficult words for the people to accept.

In this week’s gospel we continue reading from John chapter 6.

Jesus says in today’s reading: ‘It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.”

What happens then?  Many of his followers left when he said these words.

They probably left because they were confused and didn’t fully understand what he said.

But the bottom line is that they didn’t listen to his words and they left anyway.

And Jesus asks the apostles: ‘Do you also want to leave?’

Simon Peter answers him: ‘Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

You see, Peter and the other apostles listened to Jesus and began to understand  and live out his words.

They began to live and share the Good News of Jesus.

The Good News, my friends, is really not good news - it’s Great News!

The Great News is that all of us can have ‘eternal life’.

We have a God who loves us beyond our wildest imagination.

We have a God who wants each of us to spend eternity with Him.

Imagine what eternity will be like in the heavenly kingdom in the presence of God himself.

Surrounded by God, surrounded by the one who is pure love!

What can be better than that?

<pause>

Today’s readings remind us that we have a choice to follow God or not.

Do we listen to and take the advice of Joshua and Jesus and follow the Lord?

Or do we follow those who walked away from Jesus?

These are good questions for us to think about today.

My friends, in just a few short minutes, as we come forward to receive our Lord in Holy Communion

Let’s be thankful for the gift of the Eucharist.

And may it strengthen us so that we always listen to and follow Jesus

As we remember Peter’s words to Jesus:

‘Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’