June 21: Day by Day with Father Bill
MEMORIAL OF SAINT ALOYSIUS GONZAGA, RELIGIOUS
-from Pope Francis’ homily for the Solemn Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Sunday, June 6, 2021
A third image (from the account of the Last Supper in Mark 14) is that of Jesus breaking the bread. This is the Eucharistic gesture par excellence. It is the distinctive sign of our faith and the place where we encounter the Lord who offers himself so that we can be reborn to new life. This gesture also challenges us. Up to that point, lambs were sacrificed and offered to God. Now Jesus becomes the lamb, offering himself in sacrifice in order to give us life. In the Eucharist, we contemplate and worship the God of love. The Lord who breaks no one, yet allows himself to be broken. The Lord who does not demand sacrifices, but sacrifices himself. The Lord who asks nothing but gives everything. In celebrating and experiencing the Eucharist, we too are called to share in this love. For we cannot break bread on Sunday if our hearts are closed to our brothers and sisters. We cannot partake of that Bread if we do not give bread to the hungry. We cannot share the Bread unless we share in the sufferings of our brothers and sisters in need.