A celebration of First Holy Communion for our first communicants and us all This weekend our parish celebrates the Sacrament of First Holy Communion (FHC) as our second grade Faith Formation students will be fed and nourished by the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ (CCC). For we believe what Christ Himself said: “Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” What’s known as the Institution Narrative, when Christ takes bread and wine and transforms, by His Words and Actions, them into His Body and Blood is different in the Gospel of John as to what we hear in Matthew, Mark and Luke. John uses the word “flesh” rather than “body” and the command given is that “Whoever eats this bread will live forever.”
In this celebration of FHC—and in the Eucharist each time Mass is celebrated—we are given the true Flesh and true Blood of Christ—Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. We are constantly given His Promise of Eternal Salvation. Isn’t this something we’d all want to practice and receive?
Our Catholic understanding is different than the Christian denominational churches, i.e., the Protestant belief that it is a symbolic gesture. Nowhere did Christ say “This is like or similar to or something akin to my body and blood; rather He said: “Take this of all you and eat of it. This is my Body…this is my Blood…” And the Eucharistic Prayer ends with a declaratory statement: “Do this in memory of Me!” Christ didn’t say do it when it feels good or is convenient or when your schedule allows. He said “Do it in memory of Me!” The intention is for us to remain
connected on the vine, to receive Him in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity – and by consuming the Christ, we shall be nourished and fed, strengthen and transformed into Him by way of our words, actions and thoughts. Doesn’t the world need that now more than ever before?
As we welcome our younger parishioners to the table of the Lord there is a role to be played by all parents, family members— and the whole community. Remember the prayer near the end of the Baptism of your child(ren) where “The celebrant first blesses the mother, who holds the child in her arms, then the father, and lastly the entire assembly: Celebrant: God the Father, through his Son, the Virgin Mary's child, has brought joy to all Christian mothers, as they see the hope of eternal life shine on their children. May he bless the mother of this child. She now thanks God for the gift of her child. May she be one with him (her) in thanking him for ever in heaven, in Christ Jesus our Lord. All: Amen. Celebrant: God is the giver of all life, human and divine. May he bless the father of this child. He and his wife will be the first teachers of their child in the ways of faith. May they be also the best of teachers, bearing witness to the faith by what they say and do, in Christ Jesus our Lord. All: Amen.” (Rite of Baptism.)
As we gather this weekend—both the families of the FHC communicants in the church and our
parish-at-large via the internet, we celebrate the eternal promise of Christ now being extended to our children and we recall what is actually, truthfully being given to them: the conduit to Eternal Life. What joy and peace the Lord provides to all who desire and accept it. There is a gift of Love given by Christ (and the cooperating parents leading the way for their children) and in that Peace is the Eternal Justice Christ proclaims to all God’s children—God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son…and calls each one us to share in His Love, Peace and Eternal Justice. Isn’t that what the worlds need right now? Believe it. Live it. Share it!