23 Oct Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Oct. 15, 2017

Father Shawn Hughes

Disclaimer:

Homilies are never the creative act of one person.  So as we begin to post these homilies on our website I would like to state first and foremost that there will be nothing original in the following. My homilies are a result of my prayer, reading and study as it pertains to the particular gospel of the week.  Thus, I beg, borrow and steal from the wisdom of those who have gone before me and together with the Holy Spirit acting in my own prayer considering the needs of our particular parish community here at St. Mary’s, a homily appears by the weekend. If there is something that edifies you I can take no credit for it.  ‘Tis the result of the work of the Holy Spirit and those from whom I have gleaned wisdom over time.  If there is something that you might wish to discuss I am always available and would welcome any opportunity to speak about the Scriptures.  

God bless you.

Father Shawn

You ask Peter tonight in the Gospel: Will you also leave?  Peter answered for all of us.  We say to you tonight:  “Lord to whom shall we go?  We have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.”   Lord, take away my selfishness, take away my resistance to believing without understanding completely.  Lord, free me from myself.  Teach me to do your will.  Thank you Lord.

Lord, When you left us you gave us the greatest keepsake of yourself.  You gave us your very self.  Your very self to be with us for all time in the Tabernacle.  While you are reigning in heaven you are also Emmanuel, God with us. You give us your own life. You give us your our own existence.  Your divine existence.   Thank you Lord.

You are fully present to each and every one of us, Body, Mind, Soul and Divinity in every single host.   You are God. With You all things are possible.  In every single host we feel your love for us…each of us.  Me.  Thank you Lord.

Your love is available to me always.  No matter if I turn from you.  You do not turn from me.  Because You are God.  You are Love.  You cannot go against yourself.  Thank you Lord.

You come to us in Holy Communion.  You wait for us in every Tabernacle.  You wait for us.  There you intercede for us.  It’s so hard to understand such love.  But I trust such love.  Help me to trust your love for me more.  Help me to know that your love is available to me every second.  No matter what.   Thank you Lord.

You give us your very self as food so that we might share your divine life. You give us your very self so that we have divine life, the life of God, Your life, within us.  Thank you Lord.

Seven times in this gospel you assure us: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will live forever.” … Will live for all eternity.  Whoever eats you will draw life from you.  Thank you Lord.

Lord, purify me.  Give me an undivided heart, focussed on the one necessary thing.  You.  Help me to choose more often, more definitively, and more passionately to give myself to those you have put under my care.  I want to love with all the force of the freedom you give me.  Thank you Lord.

Lord open my eyes.  So that I may see you as you truly are in the Eucharist, in this mysterious sacrament.  Open my eyes so that I will see You as your truly are, here, present with us and active in my life.  Help me to be like you…Like Eucharist…May life nourish the hearts and souls of those around me as you nourish me.  May my talents, my energy, my love for the sake of the Kingdom, bring others closer to you.

Teach me to do your will.  And to seek first your Kingdom.