Dear Church Family,
I’m on vacation but we welcome our Missionary Priest who will tell us about his ministry. It is so good to be aware that we are a Universal Church. Certainly for over 50 years we have supported our on own missionaries sent to Bolivia and Chile. Today we welcome this fine missionary. Today’s theme is Jesus promises, “Everlasting life, live forever and he that eats my flesh and drinks my blood will live forever.” The Lord says it very clearly again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in Him.” So, dear church again we are blessed with Holy Communion that promises us to live forever.
The first reading has this theme also from the wisdom literature written about 100 years before Jesus lived. I especially like the last words of this wisdom literature which has the welcome to, “Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed!” This seems to be the theme. In the book of Proverbs this wisdom literature proclaims, “Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding.” That is what we like to do advance in the way of understanding and we claim with our faith that we have tasted and saw the goodness of the Lord.
Also be aware of Paul telling us to live a life filled with the Spirit and if you are filled with Spirit somehow you are prayerfully in tune with all those around you. Therefore you can pray comfortably out loud together and share faith together. Paul’s reading says, “Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and praying to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.” When we are in open fellowship we don’t have any trouble talking about our relationship with Jesus and that is one of the unique things about being part of the church family of St. Augustine or any other church family. We feel enlivened and we feel a spirit of growth. Every time we receive our Lord in Communion we are ready to move on and be refreshed in this Bread of Life. Alleluia!
Love, Fr. Bob
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