Catholic TV Mass Online June 6, 2021: Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Presider: Fr. Justin Lopina Parish: Sacred Heart and Saint Matthew TEXT FROM THE GOSPEL AND HOMILY A reading from the holy gospel according to Mark. Glory to you o Lord. On the first day of the feast of unleavened bread when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go, into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, “The teacher says, where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there. The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take this, this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruits of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the mount of olives. The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ So this is a very big day for us as Catholics. Corpus Christi Sunday, body and blood of Christ Sunday. This is the day we are supposed to focus on the Eucharist and recognize that it is so much more than a mere symbol or a ceremonial gesture. This is the source and summit of our faith. My local ordinary, Archbishop Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee has asked the local church to emphasize the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist whenever we can and for a priest that is an easy thing to obey because this is where priests come from, the Eucharist, I mean. By and large priests do not come from a desire to serve others. Don't get me wrong. That is a great secondary quality for a priest. Obviously you want your pastor to serve others. But the thing is, the people who have a desire to serve others as "the" driving force of their life, those people become social workers and doctors and policemen and all of the other wonderful professions of service. But when you meet a priest, with that distinctive collar around his neck you are speaking to someone who is profoundly and deeply in love with Christ in the Eucharist. If I'm wrong and you know a priest who is lukewarm about this whole Eucharist thing, he is not going to be a priest for much longer. The Eucharist is our inspiration as priests, it is the driving force of our lives and for the most part priests want nothing in this world except to help their people understand that they are loved beyond all telling and that the Eucharist is the best and most direct way we experience that in life. And by “we” I don't mean priests alone. I mean we/all people who partake of the body and blood of Christ that is what corpus Christi Sunday is all about. Now, if you're watching this at home, chances are you're not going to receive communion today. I'm sorry about that. It's a shame. But don't worry about it too much because even without a pandemic going on, there are many valid reasons for someone to not receive communion at any particular time. That's life. In spite of those potential circumstances however, today is the perfect opportunity for all of us to take the first step and acknowledge and proclaim that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist because just to believe that and say it is an act of faith. And Christ is there always when you are ready and able to receive him. For that tremendous gift that is the blessed sacrament thanks be to God. Entrance: All Are Welcome All Belong Text and music © 2016, Jesse Manibusan and Jennah Manibusan. Published by Spirit & Song®, a division of OCP. All rights reserved. Psalm 116: I Will Take the Cup English translation of the Psalm Response from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, ICEL. All rights reserved. Text of verses from the Lectionary for Mass, © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Wash., D.C. All rights reserved. Music © 2016, WLP Preparation: Grateful © 2003, Thomas N. Tomaszek. Published by Spirit & Song®, a division of OCP. All rights reserved. Communion: Bread of Life, Source of Peace © 2019, WLP Sending Forth: Be Lifted High © 2005, Thankyou Music (PRS)/Spirit & Song®, a division of OCP (Administered at CapitolCMGPublishing.com. All rights reserved. Used with permission.) and Joshua Blakesley. Published by Spirit & Song®, a division of OCP. All rights reserved. Mass Setting: Mass of Saint Ann Tune: Music © 2011, WLP. Text from the English translation of The Roman Missal, © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. Permission to stream music in this liturgy obtained from ONE LICENSE, License No. A-718591.