Prior to him becoming Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger gave a homily that warned the world about a new threat to human freedom and dignity he called “The Dictatorship of Relativism.” He said: “We are building a dictatorship of relativism that does not recognize anything as definitive and whose ultimate goal consists solely of one’s own ego and desires.”
As Catholic disciples, we have received the most precious gift we could ever have with Jesus’ proclamation that He is the Bread of Life who takes away the sins of the world and offers to each of us everlasting life, if we say yes and follow Him. He has proven this to be true by all that He did while in the flesh on earth by teaching, healing, dying and rising in obedience to the will of God, the Father, and out of love for those the Trinity created. What more do we need from God to believe and trust in Him? The simple answer: Nothing!
Recently, while picking up a few items in a local grocery store, I met a fellow parishioner who shared how blessed she felt by God in her life. I don’t often receive unsolicited information about one’s feelings, much less a positive affirmation of God’s presence. It was both refreshing and gave me joy to know that this person was willing to reach out in the way she did.
Being an ordained deacon does not provide me with a leg up, so to speak. I am challenged daily as everyone else who espouses Christianity as the faith of their choice. My temptations are no less and my struggle with giving in to sin is a difficult choice at times, depending on the decision I am given to make. The difference for me is remembering the pain when in the past I have given in and the disappointment I am to God for not living up to my promise to be faithful no matter what the cost.
It has taken me most of my life to learn how to be patient. I still struggle with it but have adopted a better perspective. This new found approach comes from watching and admiring mothers rearing of small children, whether they have help or do not.
What does this have to do with our readings and Gospel today?
One of the most frightening times in my early life happened when I was on a road trip from Chicago to a resort in Wisconsin in a rain storm with a raging wind from a tornado that tore off my windshield wipers. In addition to that, the bottom of the tornado’s funnel cloud touched land about 50 feet from me and forced the car to the side of the road. To say the least, I was frantically praying to God during this dark time asking Him to protect me from harm.
A few days ago my wife discovered some pictures of our family move from Illinois to California as we stopped to visit the Grand Canyon. One was of the six of us looking down into the canyon and remembering the remark by one of our children saying it’s just a big hole in the ground. Another was of my youngest on my shoulders who a week earlier wouldn’t talk or be near me because she was angry I had been away for a long period of time to set up our new life across country. I remarked to her when she saw the picture that it was a journey that changed our lives forever. Though she had no memory at the age of two about the trip, she agreed with my comment.
The solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) focuses primarily on the adoration of the Holy Eucharist and secondarily on the presence of the Body of Christ in the Church as a sign of common faith. In other words we, His disciples, are the Body of Christ who believe in the real sacramental presence of Christ in the Eucharist, not just a symbol of eating a wafer. He, Jesus, the Son of God, is physically and spiritually present in our bodies we carry with us throughout the day.