SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

My dear friends in Christ,
 
In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI remarked at Mass for the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ that “the Eucharist has the power to unite people, strengthen them and remind them that only God is worthy of worship.”  He would go on to say "to adore the body of Christ means to believe that there, in that piece of bread, there really is Christ who gives meaning to our lives, to the immense universe as well as to the smallest creature and to all of human history as well as to the briefest existence."
 
It was on this feast last year, June 14, that the doors of our church reopened after the first twelve-week lockdown.  Here we are, one year later, and still we have not been able to gather together, all of us, as one parish family to worship, and to physically partake in the bread of life, the body and blood, soul and divinity of our saviour Jesus Christ. 
 
What is it that brings us together?  That is what this Sunday is all about.  The Eucharist.  It is what unites us, and with the Word of God, is the spiritual food that we need.  We are all hungry, overdue to be fed by the real presence.  Once again, we are reminded that we are an Easter people, not just for the fifty days of Easter, but always.  We are people of hope.  We seek out that which unites us, brings us together.  With all that is going on around us, and what appears to be pulling us apart, what we need is that which unites and strengthens us all the more.  And that is the Eucharist.  To be present and still in a sacred place.  To sit and adore our saviour on our beautiful crucifix.  To come together, and know from the very depths of our soul that we are all loved.
 
We see glimmers of hope, and please know that I am ready to welcome everyone home, very soon, to your spiritual home of St. Julia. 
 
Until that time, whether in person or virtually, I look forward to you joining me for Mass this Corpus Christi Sunday.
 
May God continue to bless each of you and those that you love.
Fr. Greg