Dear Parishioners,
This past weekend, a number of our children made their first Holy Communion, receiving Jesus’ body and blood, soul and divinity for the very first time. And I tried to impress upon them and their parents the
importance of this sacrament. Of the seven, it is the only one we call the “Blessed Sacrament,” because this food doesn’t just become a part of us. We become a part of it and become one with Jesus and the other members of the Church. We enter into a common union, and strengthen it by our prayers and sacrifices.
This weekend it is fitting that Jesus refers to himself as the vine and ourselves as the branches. The vine carries the nourishment for the branches and keeps them alive so that they can provide fruit. The branches depend on the vine, for without it, they cannot produce fruit. As branches of the vine, Jesus nourishes us with the Eucharist, expecting us to bear the fruit of obedience and love of God as well as love of neighbor.
With this great privilege of being in communion with Jesus and the Church comes the responsibility of being fruitful Catholics. Jesus refers to the unfruitful branches as withered and useless, and fit only to be thrown into the fire and burnt. That’s a wake up call for all of us and a reminder that there’s no such thing as a “free lunch.” However, great things await those who live in God’s words and bear much fruit, for they truly become Jesus’ disciples.
Fr. Carl
