JUNE 5/6, 2021
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.
Also, this weekend celebrates Fr. Bill’s birthday – as well as the anniversary of my own ordination to the priesthood twelve years ago.
Our readings this year for this feast, commonly known as Corpus Christi, seem to focus on the theme of Covenant.
A Covenant is similar … but also different … than a contract. Where a contract is an exchange of goods or services … a Covenant is an exchange of persons … creating an extension of kinship and family.
The Sacraments of Inititiation – Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist – bring us into a family relationship with Almighty God – the Most Holy Trinity.
Matrimony brings two people into a relationship with each other – creating a new family.
Ordination places a man into relationship with God and the People of God.
Covenants are based on promises or vows.
In promises of Baptism are somewhat familiar to us: “Do you reject Satan … Do you believe in God the Father … Jesus Christ … the Holy Spirit …”
The promises of Matrimony are also familiar: “I take you … to have and to hold … for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health … until death do us part.”
But I would hazard to guess that the promises of Ordination are perhaps less familiar to us.
If you ask the general public, the biggest promise is celibacy.
If you ask the bishop, the biggest promise is obedience.
But the former isn’t even asked in priesthood – because that’s old news. Already asked and answered six or more months before at diaconal ordination.
And obedience is the last promise made – a period or question mark at the end of four other promises taken as part of the Covenant-making ritual of ordination to the priesthood.
Are you resolved with the help of the Holy Spirit, to discharge without fail, the office of the priesthood … as a … fellow worker … in caring for the Lord’s flock?
… to celebrate the mysteries … for the glory of God and the sanctification of Christ’s people?
… to exercise the ministry of the word … preaching the Gospel and explaining the Catholic faith?
… to consecrate your life to God for the salvation of his people … to unite yourself more closely every day to Christ the High Priest, who offered himself for us to the Father as a perfect sacrifice?
And the answers, like all of the other promises we know: “I do … I do … I do … I do … with the help of God.”
A priest isn’t married to one person – but he is, in a certain sense, married to God and the people of God … to do what he does “without fail … faithfully and religiously … worthily and wisely … united … to Christ the High Priest.”
A Catholic evangelist once made an observation “No priest, no Eucharist. No Eucharist, no Church.” Yet all of these Covenants … and all of their promises … work together in synergy … to build the Church.
Priests come from families, not seminaries. And brides and grooms come from families. And, of course, so do babies … and all the people of God. The Church is the People of God – in relationship with God and with each other.
As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ – the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ … the subject … the protagonist … of today’s Solemnity – let us pray for Fr. Bill on his birthday weekend – and if you would … for me … as well as the whole Church. And, “[m]ay God who has begun the good work in [all of us] … bring it to fulfillment” in Christ Jesus, Our Lord.
