Our Lady of Sorrows
    info@oladyofsorrows.org
    956-686-0251
    • Home
    • News
      • News & Bulletins
    • Live Stream Masses
    • Homilies
      • Msgr. Gustavo Barrera
      • Fr. Felix Cazares
      • Fr. Mishael Koday
      • Dcn. Ray Thomas
      • Dcn. Juan Gonzalez
      • Dcn. Crawford Higgins
    • About Us
      • About Us
      • Office Directory
      • Photo Gallery
      • Pastor
      • Worship & Liturgy Schedule
      • Employment Oportunities
    • Donate
    • Sacraments
      • Matrimony
      • CCD
      • RCIA
    • Ministries & Organizations
      • CDA
      • Knights of Columbus
    • Faith & Spirituality
      • Faith Classes & Workshops
      • Adoration
      • Bereavement Support
      • Contemplative Prayer
      • Divine Mercy
      • Lenten Parish Mission 2020
    • Parish Life
      • Become a Parishioner
      • OLS YouTube Channel
      • Calendar
    • School
    • Diocese of Brownsville
    • Contact

    Body and Blood of Christ, Cycle (B)

    6/4/2018

     
    Mark 14:12-16, 22-26
    ​
    Our most precious possession is the Eucharist.  Possession because the Eucharist is the real presence of Christ who gave Himself to the Church, consequently to each of us.
     
    On the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ we recall our history.  In the middle of treachery, betrayal, denial—Jesus celebrated the first Holy Mass from the roots of the Passover meal.  He told His Apostles, “Do this in memory of me.”  The Apostles could not believe what they were hearing.  Jesus changed years of tradition to create something completely new.  The God to whom sacrifice had been offered became the sacrifice.  The Exodus story of years of wondering in the desert, marking the doors with lamb’s blood for the angel of death to pass-over them, coming into the Promised Land—all culminated on the night when Jesus said, “This is my blood of the covenant which will be shed for many.”  The Lord promised, “The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood will live forever.”  The Apostles were confused.  The saw pain on the face of Jesus but could not understand the reason.  Not until years later did the words come to make sense.  After the crucifixion, death and resurrection the small group of believers started to piece together the sayings of Jesus into what we call the Gospels.   St. Paul, who had persecuted and killed Christians, became one of the founders of Christianity.  Some of his writings precede the Gospels.  Took a lot of courage to go against the establishment.  Countless died for what they believed.
     
    Courage, passion, respect for the Eucharist is sometimes missing because we get into a routine.  The gift can be taken for granted.  Vocations to the priesthood and religious life are coming from countries where there is persecution.  Suffering is intimately connected with Eucharist.  No wonder that we say, The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  Not because it’s a sacrifice to come, but because of the Sacrifice that Jesus made for us.  Until we have personally suffered we really cannot appreciate the full impact of Holy Mass.  Maturity of Faith happens when we can look beyond the sign and symbol to embrace mystery above logical understanding.  The challenge is to look beyond to discover how we are all connected with the One who’s Body and Blood we receive. 
     
    Body and Blood of Christ is never about “me”, always about “us.”  “Take this, all of you.”  Not “Take this you, or some of you.”  We put limits on the mercy of God, especially when we don’t like them.  “They should not be receiving Holy Communion.  Oh, if people only knew.  I don’t think that they are married in the Church.”  Judgment calls are plentiful.  But God’s mercy is greater than all the rules put together, greater than all the sins of the world.  No one is worthy to receive Holy Communion.  So why play the worthy/unworthy game?  Why try to measure a person’s worthiness?  Only God knows the heart.  Remember, Jesus gave Holy Communion to Judas, knowing that Judas was going to betray Him.  Fact is that all of the Apostles betrayed Him.  They all ran away.  Repentance, acceptance of God’s grace, remembering their call brought the Apostles back.  Once they were forgiven, they became invincible.  The small community went out to preach about the freedom of forgiveness.  That’s what Mass—Misa means—means sent.  To go out and announce the Good News that we have been forgiven, regardless of our offenses.  The Good News that we can never be worthy but that God makes us worthy.
     
    “Ite, missa est.”  Deo grátias .”  The Mass is ended, Thanks be to God.  Another translation might be.  The Mass is ended, go out and live what you believe.  Tell everybody how much God loves us

    Comments are closed.
      Picture
      Msgr. Gustavo Barrera
      ​celebrated his first Holy Mass as pastor on September 15, 2007, the feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows. With his enthusiasm and spiritual guidance, OLS will continue to serve our Catholic family in a way that will challenge us to grow as an evangelizing community.

      Archives

      November 2020
      October 2020
      September 2020
      August 2020
      July 2020
      June 2020
      May 2020
      April 2020
      March 2020
      February 2020
      January 2020
      December 2019
      November 2019
      October 2019
      September 2019
      July 2019
      June 2019
      May 2019
      April 2019
      March 2019
      February 2019
      January 2019
      December 2018
      November 2018
      October 2018
      September 2018
      August 2018
      July 2018
      June 2018
      May 2018
      April 2018
      March 2018
      February 2018
      January 2018
      December 2017
      November 2017
      October 2017
      September 2017
      August 2017
      June 2017
      May 2017
      April 2017
      March 2017
      February 2017
      January 2017
      December 2016
      November 2016
      October 2016
      September 2016
      August 2016
      July 2016
      June 2016
      May 2016
      April 2016
      March 2016
      February 2016
      January 2016
      December 2015
      November 2015
      October 2015
      September 2015
      August 2015
      July 2015
      June 2015
      May 2015
      April 2015
      March 2015

      Msgr. Gustavo Barrera, Pastor.

      Categories

      All

      RSS Feed

    About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Office Directory
    • Stewardship
    • Pastor
    • Our History
    Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • First Reconciliation
    • First Communion
    • Confirmation
    • Marriage
    • Anointed of the Sick
    Parish Life
    1. Become a Parishioner
    2. Bulletin & Newsletters
    3. Calendar
    4. Planning Center
    5. Facilities
    Worship and Liturgy
    • Daily Readings
    • Liturgy of Hours
    • Mass & Reconciliation
    • Eucharistic Adoration
    Faith Formation
    • CCD
    • RCIA
    • Faith Resources
    Links & Resources
    • CDOB
    • USCCB
    • Vatican: Holy See
    • American Catholic
    More
    • Homilies
    • Online Giving
    • OLS School
    • OLS on YouTube
    Our Lady of Sorrows Parish
    1108 W Hackberry Ave.
    McAllen, Texas 78501-4370
    Telephone
    : (956) 686-0251
    Picture
    Picture

    Website Development by The Parish Solutions Company
    Our Lady of Sorrow Image Copyright Cromo NB permission to use by CNB Basevi.
    Back to top