Today is part three of a series of homilies on the "dynamic life" of God that is available to us initially in the Sacrament of Baptism, and is increased in the Sacrament of Confirmation in the form of Seven Major Gifts (WUCKPFF). Last week I stated that there is still one "missing piece" to this series and I asked you to think of what it was. What is it? (Pause) Yes, it is the Most Blessed Eucharist: the great Sacrament of the Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus – that he left us as a memorial of his passion and our pledge of future glory when he comes again. "While you are waiting for me to come again, I want to be with you at every moment – not only in your tabernacles – but also in YOU – so that you will have every possible chance of making it to where you want to be: heaven, with me and your brothers and sisters!
The Eucharist then is "the missing piece" to our homiletic puzzle.
The way I have recently come to get the most out of Eucharist is to F.O.F. (as opposed to WUCKPFF). F.O.F.=
FOCUS ON (the Divine) FRIENDSHIP!
Let me break it down this way:
God's Friendship became a man: Jesus. (named at his birth). This is an astounding reality to think about: The Word of God has "pitched his tent in our world" – as "God's-Friendship-Made-Flesh!" WOW!
Jesus became a piece of bread: then died for us to prove that Friendship. (The Last Supper; The Cross of Calvary). Both of these were the exact same act of redemptive total self-donation on the part of Jesus for us and for our salvation. By this supreme act of obedience the lost friendship between God and mankind was reconnected! Where we have the bread, we have the cross; where we have the cross, we have the bread! They are inseparable!
When we eat the bread, we become the bread, Jesus, the Friendship – so we can be it (them) for others – all others! (Self-sacrificial Donation or Self-Sacrificing Service). Everything else that we eat becomes us, but not the transubstantiated bread: bread changed by the words of Christ using the instrumentality of the duly ordained priest by the working of the Holy Spirit – we are drawn into the very life of this bread. We become the changed bread! For it is the very dynamic life of God that energizes all of our spiritual faculties – if we don't put anything in the way to block it!
That's all there is to it! But once again: WOW! What an absolutely astounding reality that is! And it's as near to us as this Mass (or any other Mass we will attend in the future). Here we have an absolute guarantee that everything we could possibly need in life will be provided if our faith in the Eucharist, in the gifts of Confirmation, in our gifts of Baptism are fully engaged and used by us! It takes work on our part, but it is so worth it! And, oh yes, it is always a great day to be Catholic for the fully initiated member of the Church: initiated by Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist!
God wants our reconnected Friendship with him to reach Divine status in our own minds, because it has already done so in his! We are his dearly beloved friends and children. And so we must Focus on the Divine Friendship (F.O.F.) as often as we possibly can – especially in FRIENDING OTHER PEOPLE! This is the way to maintain and keep alive the grace of the Eucharist we receive here when we leave. FRIEND and you will KNOW AND FEEL JESUS like you never have before. FRIEND in a self-sacrificial way and the knowledge and feeling will be even deeper and more satisfying to you and to the one beFRIENDED!
And so my dear friends: let us this day and always F.O.F., Focus on the Divine Friendship – it makes all the difference in the whole world and will do so until the end of time!
The Broken Bread of Life is the Holy Bread of Friendship!
This is my body given for you; this is the cup of your salvation!
Come, come and eat and drink!
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