“She said to herself, ‘If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured’” (Mt 9: 21).
We have the possibility everyday to touch not only Our Lord’s cloak, but also Himself. He feeds us during every Mass with His Body (and His Blood); He opens our hearts when we read His words; He looks at us with love when we visit Him in the Blessed Sacrament. He protects us in everyday situations; He loves us in every moment of our lives and cures us. We are His beloved children and siblings.
“Your merciful love, O God, we have received in the midst of your temple. Your praise, O God, like your name, reaches the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with saving justice” (Entrance Antiphon)
“…you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”
Our Church, founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ, is based on Peter, the first Apostle; not because he was the oldest, the wisest or the best qualified, but because he was chosen by God the Father.
The Church is His, we are His, our gifts are from Him and everything is oriented to build His Church and protect from “the gates of the netherworld.”
“Peter said to Jesus: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus replied: You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church” (Communion Antiphon)
“…for the anger of the LORD has been set furiously ablaze against us, because our fathers did not obey the stipulations of this book, nor fulfil our written obligations.” (2 Kings 22: 13)
Our Lord talks to us every day. Daily readings give us a small portion of the whole Bible, like the Father who feeds His children. Rejecting His words puts us in danger, not because “of the anger of the Lord,” but because we will be weaker. His “anger” is the description of His love to us, and His “written obligation” is to keep us strong in love, persevering in hope and confident in faith.
“The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“The LORD called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.” (Is 49:1)
Even if we use different translations for this sentence (“from my birth,” “from the womb,” “from the body of my mother”) the idea is one: I am called from the first moment of my existence and with my name I have received an absolutely unique vocation.
“You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.” (Mt 7: 1-2)
It is so easy to have “opinions” about the others. Unfortunately those “opinions” sometimes become judgments. The original sin made us are very fragile in this area: this is Eva’s fault, not mine.
The Gospel invites us to be the defenders of the others: not to judge, but to defend.
“The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” (J 6: 56)
Today we are celebrating the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as Corpus Christi Feast. We celebrate our belief in the body and blood of Jesus and His real presence in the Eucharist.
In my country, still celebrating this feast on Thursday, every parish, even the smallest one, takes the Holy Sacrament in the monstrance onto the streets, with a procession to four altars. Parish banners with the saints and patrons of various groups, little girls scattering flowers, many altar boys, other priests who form the honor guard before the priest carrying the Holy Sacrament and hundreds of people walking in the procession. Our Lord is visiting our streets, the places where we live.
Here this tradition is a little bit forgotten. What we can take from this feast is the idea of inviting Jesus to our places, offices and homes, our neighbors and members of our families. When we receive Him in the Holy Communion we become Living Tabernacles and we can take Him in our hearts to the world. Like the monstrance we can carry Him and show Him where we live.
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.” (Communion Antiphon)
“… store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” (Mt 6: 20-21)
My heart follows the treasure. It is mportant what the treasure is and where it is located. Our Lord told us that whatever we can store up in heaven is good enough for my heart. If I can’t store it in heaven, my heart operates below its dignity.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” (Gospel Antiphon)
“This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven…” (Mt 6:9)
The most unique prayer ever: the personal prayer of Our Lord to His Father now has become our prayer. When we call Him “Our,” at the same moment we are united with Jesus and the Holy Spirit – They first called Him “Father.”
“You have received a spirit of adoption as sons through which we cry: Abba! Father”! (Gospel Acclamation)
“And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” (Mt 6: 4)
Our Father’s eyes are always turned to me. There is no hidden or secret place where we will be in danger because of being alone. There is no darkness, no depression, no loneliness, no sickness, no hopelessness and no sin where there is no cure. He sees because He cares. He sees because He loves.
“O Lord, hear my voice, for I have called to you; by my help. Do not abandon or forsake me, O God, my Savior!” (Entrance Antiphon)
