Adoring the Body and Blood of Christ
in Centerville and Hilltop Lakes
Many of you might remember when the Feast of Corpus
Christi was celebrated on a Thursday around this time of year.
Perhaps there was a Eucharistic procession through your town (or around your
Catholic school), or maybe there was extended Adoration of the Most Blessed
Sacrament. These are all devotional practices I would like to do in the
future on this feast day, but today I would like to focus on how today’s feast
makes us unique — how it sets us apart — as Catholic Christians. We live
in a part of the United States that is not very Catholic, but it is very
Protestant and Evangelical. Virtually the one belief that sets us apart
from other Christians is our belief in the Real Presence of
Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist. Other Christians say that it is
only a symbol, but we believe that it is really Jesus Christ
at the holy Mass. (Jesus does not say that this is a “symbol” in the
Bible; see John 6:51-58) Our belief in His Real Presence changes everything:
the way we dress for Mass; the way we turn off our cell phones (and never
“text”) during Mass; the way we kneel, pray and sing; and the way we reverently
receive Holy Communion. All these actions point to our belief that it
is really Jesus. We do not see Him as the disciples
did 2,000 years ago, but we know through faith that He is
here! And ultimately, this belief must lead to a deeper conversion in our
lives as Catholics.
Two and a half years ago, St. Thomas More Catholic Community
built a beautiful new church in Hilltop Lakes. Last year in Centerville,
we undertook the project of renovating the little church of St. Leo’s in order
to make it more beautiful. The two projects combined cost over a half
million dollars. Why would two little churches in Leon County, Texas
spend this kind of money on their church buildings? Other churches have
more facilities and more programs than St. Leo’s and STM. (Some even have
rodeo activities and a community meal every Sunday.) But what we do have
is far greater, far more important, and far more beautiful. We have Jesus
Christ in His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. No other “church” has the
sacramental presence of Christ as we have Him in the Catholic Church.
Because Christ’s presence has been honored and prioritized in this way at St.
Leo’s and STM, I believe the Lord is bestowing tremendous blessings on both
communities. Not only were the new church and St. Leo’s renovation paid
off last year, we have money in the bank to go to the next stage in both
communities — thanks to your generosity. Christ is faithful to us when we
make Him the very center of our lives, but especially of our Catholic
communities.
My challenge to both St. Leo’s and STM this Sunday is to reflect
on what this belief means to you as an individual and as a community: How
does my belief in the Holy Eucharist change my life? My attitude?
My thoughts, words and deeds? Do I care that Jesus wants
to give Himself to me in such a radical way? What are we doing so that
Christ can touch our marriages, our families, our jobs and our
wider communities? Ultimately, we will be judged severely for not responding to
the sanctifying grace given to us in the sacraments. Today, we have the
opportunity to let Christ transform us and empower us
with a renewed sense of mission as Catholic Christians. We receive Jesus
wholly so we can bring His presence to the world. That is our mission as
Catholics in the world, and that is certainly our mission locally as Catholics
in Centerville and Hilltop Lakes.
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