From the Pastor's Desk | December 10, 2023

Gospel Reflection

As we continue our preaching series on the Eucharist, we hear in the Gospel today that John the Baptist - the last and culmination of the prophets - baptized with water a baptism of repentance, but one mightier than he would baptize with the Holy Spirit. 

Repentance means something.  Ultimately repentance means to turn away from sin and self-centeredness and to turn toward God.  It requires a complete and transformative change of heart and mind, what the Greeks call metanoia.

In Psalm 51, we read, “Lord, you will open my lips; and my mouth will proclaim your praise.  For you do not desire sacrifice or I would give it; a burnt offering you would not accept.  My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn” (v. 17-19).  Jesus Christ offered the ultimate sacrifice for each one of us as he took up the Cross and offered His life to the Father.  As we offer the Eucharistic sacrifice of Holy Mass, that sacrifice is re-presented before us in an unbloody manner.

St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, writes,  “I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.  Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2).  That which we offer as penance helps us repent from sin and, in a very real way, unites us to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ by helping us change our hearts and minds.  In a mysterious and sacramental way, the sacrifice of Christ comes to life in the offering of our penance and repentance.  To be a Eucharistic people - to be a people who become what and who we celebrate at every Mass - means that we must be a sacrificial people offering ourselves to the Father and living that sacrifice in our daily lives.

My father died almost a year ago on December 28, 2022.  We celebrated his funeral Mass on January 5.  Below is an excerpt from the funeral homily that I preached at his funeral Mass: 

Everything my father did, every decision my father made was with not only the family in mind but also those whom he served as a golf professional.  He cared deeply about his family, his members, and his customers.  He worked long hours, would come home tired every day, just to get up early the next morning to do it all over again.  And, he didn’t get weekends off.  He sacrificed his time and energy so that Shane and I could succeed and have opportunities that he himself missed out on.  He sacrificed his time and energy so that his members and customers could take some time for themselves to relax and spend their time together.  He sacrificed his time and energy striving to make sure everyone was taken care of.  He sacrificed his own financial well-being as he worked tirelessly for his family.  He will always be, for me, a model of sacrifice. 

We gather together this morning to offer sacrifice ourselves.  Bread and wine will be brought forward and placed on the altar to be presented to the Father as a sacrifice – the re-presentation of Christ’s once and for all sacrifice as he hung on a cross.  As the late Pope Benedict wrote, “The Eucharist draws us into Jesus' act of self-oblation. More than just statically receiving the incarnate Logos, we enter into the very dynamic of his self-giving.”  We are called to imitate what and who it is we celebrate.  As Christ says himself, “No greater love can a man have than to lay down his life for his friends.”  Why do we gather at this altar this morning?  To present the sacrifice to the heavenly father on behalf of my earthly father and that we might be all the more conformed to Christ to live sacrifice ourselves.    

As we continue through this Advent season, let us be a Eucharistic people who strive to live sacrificially every day. 

Know of my prayers for each one of you! 

Fr. Ryan