Many years ago I left the tea kettle on the stove and caused smoke damage in my old house in Florida. Smoke came bellowing out the front door. Luckily, my daughter, Emily, had stopped by the house and caught it before the house burnt down. When my wife, Anna, and I received the call from Emily we started to panic. Adrenalin kicked in. Adrenal and panic must have been some of the emotions felt on the first Passover there must have been adrenalin pumping through everyone’s veins. If I were one of God’s people at the time it would not have been an enjoyable meal. That was not the reason for the meal. The purpose was to begin a journey of trusting God in all things. It worked for Moses and the Israelites who fled Egypt.” This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the LORD, as a perpetual institution.” It began a 40-year journey for the Israelites to become the people of God. Fortunately, we don’t have to journey for 40 years to put our trust is God.
We notice also that there is a reoccurring theme in today’s Gospel when Jesus says, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. Just like the Passover we celebrate the Eucharist of Our Lord every day in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The doctrine of Transubstantiation tells us of the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. This is a beautiful doctrine of our faith, and it is a shame that a good many Catholics do not believe that Christ is present in the Eucharist. Jesus says, I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.
If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
you would not have condemned these innocent men.
For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”
The Catholic Bishops have issued a prayer that I say daily to remind myself who the Lord of the Sabbath is and His real presence in the Eucharist.
Eucharistic Revival Prayer
Lord Jesus, you make the world radiant
with the splendor of your presence.
You embrace our humanity,
so that we may share in your divinity.
You reveal yourself to us
as the Living Bread
that comes down from heaven.
Share your heavenly light
with me, O Lord,
so that I may see you in the Eucharist.
Fill me with awe and wonder
for the gift of your
Body and Blood in Holy Communion.
Through the mystery of the Eucharist
unite our hearts to yours,
that we may be a sign of communion
for the whole world,
and may live with you forever.
Amen.
In one of my past posts I have discussed the scriptures supporting the doctrine of Transubstanciation . Namely, John 6, Luke 22 and Luke 24. Some of my fellow Parishioners at Saint Mary’s think Scott Hahn invented the scripture but I first learned of it in a religion class when I was a senior in High School in 1963. Jesus performed so many miracles but then tells the crowd they that they have to eat His flesh and drink his blood to have eternal life. People could not bear to listen to these words and many left. Jesus looks around and only sees Peter and His disciples and asks Peter why he hasn’t gone too. I love Peter. Peter says Lord you have the words of eternal life. Why would Jesus’ turn people away? Then at the Last Super in Luke 22 He says this is My Body… this is My Blood. “Is” is the operative word. Then in Luke 24 they recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread.
So, I hope you will join me daily in saying the above Bishop’s Revival prayer.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for peace!
