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Joshua, the leader of the people who came out of slavery in Egypt, uttered the above words as a way to challenge the people to quit being indecisive and rather make a commitment to serve the Lord. These words are very significant for us today. We might accuse Joshua of assuming too much by purporting to make a decision not only for himself but also for his household. We might wonder about the freedom his household had, if any, to make such a decision for themselves. While this might appeal to modern imagination, it seems to me that Joshua made that declaration because he knew the importance of taking a stance for the Lord, and how serving the Lord would be beneficial for his family. As such, it seems safe to say that as head of his family, he made a decision, which was in their best interest.

This weekend we come to the more Eucharistic focus in the Bread of Life Discourse in John Chapter 6. Our Lord Jesus says whoever eats his flesh and drinks his blood remains in him and he in them. This speaks of union with Christ. Unlike material food which we eat and is decomposed and becomes part of us, the Eucharistic food is not assimilated by us, rather, because it is the flesh and blood of the Divine Son of God, it transforms us into himself. We become what we consume.

Although Jesus declares that the bread he gives is his real flesh and the wine his real blood, not all of his listeners accepted it. This has not changed even today. The sad truth is that not everyone will believe in the Eucharist. This is a fact. Faith is a free gift from God; and it is manifest only in those who respond to it generously.

This weekend we welcome three new members into full communion with the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church - Dustin Philipson, Lynnea Hamilton, and Elijah (Eli) Hamilton. Although they already belonged to the universal church by reason of our common baptism, they however were not in full communion and could not partake in the Body and Blood of Christ given to us in the Eucharist. This weekend they will profess the Creed, be Confirmed, and receive their First Holy Communion.

It is recorded that over 60,000 people attended the National Eucharistic Congress, held at the Lucas Oil Stadium and the International Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis from July 17 - 21. I am grateful to the Lord that I was able to participate in this epochal event in the history of the Catholic Church in the United States. Alongside the number, I was thrilled by the diversity in the demographics of people who attended, from young and old, men and women and children, Cardinals, Bishops, priests, religious (male and female), in fact, the whole church was present.

In the First Reading for this weekend, the prophet Jeremiah proclaims the Lord’s denunciation for those shepherds who instead of caring for the Lord’s flock have resorted to self-care and comfort at the expense of the flock. They have become predators, exploiting the flock for their own selfish interests. As a result, the Lord will raise up a shepherd from the household of his servant David who will take care of his flock as he desires. This promise of a shepherd-king would be fulfilled in Jesus, who calls himself The Good Shepherd.

"We exist to rescue people from the poverty of an identity outside of Jesus” At all the masses this past weekend I introduced our parish mission statement, which is drawn from the Four Clarity Questions that are at the heart of who we are, what we do, and how we make ministry decisions.

This weekend’s Gospel presents two miracles: on the one hand, the healing of the woman with the hemorrhage that had defied medical solutions, with its associated societal stigma. She was as good as dead. On the other hand, we had the raising of Jairus’ young daughter. The conditions of both actors were dire until they encountered the healing power of Jesus.

Hope you are staying cool and hydrated from the heat. I have been thinking of what to focus on for this week’s bulletin, and the idea of the grounding philosophy that shapes my and the staff’s thinking as we provide leadership to our parish came to mind. We call these the Four Clarity Questions. They are foundational to how we understand who we are as a parish, what we do and how we do them.

Have you ever seen a mustard seed? What was spectacular about it? My first experience of mustard seed was in my home country when people used it as a symbol in praying for something mighty. I suspect that the significance attached to this almost inconsequential seed, as well as the spiritual practice associated with it, comes from the saying of Jesus recorded in St. Mark’s Gospel (4:26-34). It is the smallest of seeds, but when sown blossoms into a mighty shrub.

On the literal level, the first reading this weekend presents a picture of why things are the way they are: why humans suffer to earn their food or have children, and why the serpent crawls on its belly unlike other animals. But beyond this literal relevance of the story, we also derive some insights into what we have come to know as the First Sin and its consequences.

St. Thomas Aquinas is celebrated for his contributions to Catholic Theology. Prominent among them are his great works, Summa Theologiae (Summa Theologica) and Summa Contra Gentiles. These two theological classics are time-tested and praised by many Popes and scholars. Thomas Aquinas is also credited for his great Eucharistic devotion as seen in the hymns he composed in praise of the Most Holy Eucharist. Commissioned by Pope Urban IV in 1264, Thomas Aquinas wrote the liturgy for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi (The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ), which we celebrate this weekend.

Last weekend we celebrated Pentecost, when we commemorated the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples with the Blessed mother. It was the birth and manifestation of the Church, which until then had been in hiding for fear of the Jews. Jesus sent the promised gift of the Spirit from the Father to console, confirm and strengthen the disciples so they can be his witnesses to all of Judea and the entire world.

This weekend 12 of our children made their First Holy Communion to our children. We congratulate them as they have taken a major step in their journey of Christian initiation. They now partake with us at the table of the Lord's Body and Blood. Through this participation in the Eucharist their relationship with Jesus will be nourished and strengthened. I want to thank their families for walking with them on this journey, supporting them by word and example. I thank our catechists also who helped them prepare for this great sacrament.

How would you treat someone who once hurt you, even when they profess that they have repented? I imagine many of us would be suspicious of their intent. Some of us might not even allow them room to come close. Saul’s reputation as a persecutor of Christians preceded him. The believers in Jerusalem and the Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews) doubted the credibility of his claim to have repented and even tried to kill him. I cannot begin to imagine the fear that gripped the believers upon seeing the now ‘pretentious brother Saul’ and the depth of their hatred for this 'impostor.' Were there any redeeming qualities in this alleged repentant brother? These are some questions for you to ponder.

It is the Second Sunday of Easter and the last day in the Octave of Easter. Since April 30th, 2000, the Second Sunday of Easter has been reserved for the proclamation and celebration of the Mercy of God. We celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, in fidelity to the request Our Lord Jesus made to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska.

Come to think of it, no one actually saw Jesus rise from the dead. No one was there when he rose triumphantly from the grave. The women went early on Sunday morning to anoint his body but found an empty tomb with the huge stone rolled away from the entrance to the tomb.

Holy because during this week we come to the climax of our Lenten observances. It is the week toward which our Lenten preparations looked. Holy because during this week our Lord enters into the city of his ancestor, David, to fulfill the purpose for which he became man. He no longer hides, neither does he avoid arrest. In fact, he goes to it, of his own accord.

We are drawing closer to the Feast of our redemption. But in order to meaningfully celebrate Easter, we must first accompany the Lord in his passion and death. Lent affords us the opportunity to intentionally take on certain disciplines of prayer, charity and self-mortification as we seek to draw closer to the Lord. By our fasting and abstinence we train our bodies not to desire inordinate comfort and pleasure that are threats to discipleship. We must never forget the one summons that the Lord addresses to us - “Come, follow me.”

Hope Lent is going well for you? Last week I challenged you to learn at least one traditional Catholic prayer this Lent. I proposed the Anima Christi (Soul of Christ). The purpose is not just so you memorize the prayer, but so that it adds to your repertoire and helps you form your own words when you pray to God from your heart.