Dear friends,

Body and Blood of Christ

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the “Body and Blood of Christ” the First Holy Communion of seven of our children. It represents their first encounter with Jesus. Today’s celebration is wanted by the Church to say “Thank You” to Jesus for remaining with us always in the little box on the main altar. The two lights at the side of it are shining day and night as a silent reminder that Jesus is with us, that He is with us because He loves us.

He made the promise to be with us long ago, after he had fed the crowds with the bread that he had multiplied and urged the crowds to hunger not only for physical, material bread, but for food that satisfies the soul.

We rejoice today in a very special way because our children will receive their First Holy Communion. They have been preparing themselves for this important meeting. The have been assisted by their parents and  a committed group of catechists: Darlene Chan, Christine and Joe Delfin not to mention the prayers that the whole parish has been offering to God on their behalf. Special thanks to Lily May and the St. Therese Choir who has been so supportive of the Liturgy.

Our children will be sharing in the bread and Wine. While offering the consecrated host the priest proclaims his faith by saying aloud: ”The Body of Christ” . In answering “Amen” we intend to say: “Yes, I agree, it is so!”

The children will also share in the chalice of the Lord, in spite of their young age. Drinking from the chalice means: “to share in the same destiny” they intend to live as Jesus lived.

It is a very important meeting the one of today, as all the meetings with Jesus. After meeting Jesus people are never the same as before: either they are a little worse or a little better. Jesus is like the fire which can melt or harden things according to their nature. We do not want our hearts to harden and become “stony hearts” as the Bible calls sinners. This is the reason why we have to prepare ourselves for this meeting with Jesus in the Eucharist. St. people warns us that if we are eating that bread as ordinary bread, light heartedly, without previous preparation, we are “eating and drinking our condemnation”

The church exhorts us to refrain from food and drink for at least one hour prior to the reception of the Eucharist. This is why we bow or kneel while entering a Church: we want to acknowledge the living presence of Jesus in our midst.

I’d like to advice the parents of these young children, to remind them of this and arouse in them a sense of expectancy and joy for this meeting with Jesus.

Best wishes to our children, a big thank you to the catechists with the prayer that family and catechists should continue to nurture this little seed that today is planted in the heart of these children till it grows and blooms in to a tree.