“In this world I cannot see the Most High Son of God with my own eyes, except for His Most Holy Body and Blood … What wonderful majesty! What stupendous condescension! O sublime humility! That the Lord of the whole universe, God and the Son of God, should humble Himself like this under the form of a little bread, for our salvation …” – St. Francis of Assisi
Please join us in honoring Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist on Sunday, June 6, at 4:15 pm. On this day, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Corpus Christi – the Body and Blood of Christ. Prior to the parish picnic, I will lead an Outdoor Eucharistic Procession around the St. Francis of Assisi Campus. The procession will begin and end in the church.
I can’t think about a more beautiful coincidence of grace than that after this long year and a half without large gatherings, our first major parish event – the Parish Picnic – will occur on the wonderful Solemnity of the Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ!
I remember when the Royals won the World Series in 2015. What a great celebration for all the Royals fans and those of us in the region! How wonderful it was to see the people crowd the streets to see the trophy paraded through Kansas City. If the Royals had reason to parade through the town, which indeed they did, how much more of a reason do we, as Christians, have to parade the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords through the streets! The reason for our peace, our hope, our “inexpressible joy touched with glory!” If a crown that withers can rightly be triumphantly carried through the streets, ought we not offer the world our most treasured Trophy – the Eucharistic presence and gift of God Himself?
I invite anyone who would like to participate in this procession to come celebrate the gift of Jesus with us, to celebrate the reason for our stewardship, to celebrate what is created here at St. Francis of Assisi through the gift of Jesus here among us in the flesh.
It is truly the Eucharistic Bread, Jesus Himself, that makes us one – a unity beyond anything we could ask for or imagine. We are united, bound together, made into one body – perceptible with our own eyes, able to be participated in through our parish and Sacramental life, and able to be responsible for through our life of stewardship.
There is a profound qualitative difference between responsibility and stewardship. A sense of stewardship is inspired, founded upon the gift of God that we have received – we are bearers of the Mystery of God. We carry something with us. We carry something inside of us. We proudly champion the gift of God Himself, given to us in the Holy Eucharist.
Fr. Luke Downing