Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Hanceville, Alabama, USA.
Gospel Mk 14:12-16, 22-26
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He sent two of his disciples and said to them," Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples? "'Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there. "The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
While they were eating, he 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. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God. "Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
REFLECTION
"This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many."
Not long ago I was casually talking to an acquaintance. He was telling me he and his family had recently been received into the Catholic Church, and his daughter was engaged to marry a nice Catholic young man she had met in College.
My first reaction to this was: "Why on earth would you convert into Catholicism? I mean, we don't even like ourselves!" He laughed a bit so I elaborated: "Even in the Church, we have divisions amongst ourselves: Traditional Catholics vs. Liberals, Opus Dei vs. Regnum Christi and so on and so forth."
He knows my somewhat dark humor, so he just chuckled. He and his family had been extremely active members of their Baptist community. Even to the length of going into Muslim countries as missionaries. So I did ask him why did they cross the Tiber?
He said that his church community started turning "woke", and he and his family were against this way of thinking. To the point they became repulsed on some of the things they were promoting. Then two things happened.
First, his daughter met a Catholic boy in College. They talked and discussed matters of faith. Then they all decided to take a drive into Hanceville, Alabama to visit the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Yes, the one founded by Mother Angelica, and where her body lays to rest under the altar.
The 6 ft. monstrance above the altar created a huge impression on him. To the point that they immediately joined RCIA. And just this year were received into the Church.
During their sincere search for Jesus and the Truth, this family found the Eucharist and how much it means into the life of the Church. Into our own lives.
According to the CCC:
"The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch."
Comentarios