It was even more delightful than I had anticipated. First Holy Communion last Saturday, followed
closely by our May Procession and Crowning of Our Lady, made for a weekend that
reminds me why I am a priest.
To offer Our Lord to all those children was a true
pleasure and privilege; they were obviously so aware, thanks to their parents
and catechists, of Him whom they were receiving. To see the church so crowded is always a
boost, as well; that all the people present be invigorated in their faith and
devotion to our Eucharistic Lord is my goal and prayer.
After the Mass, I spent the day moving from party to
party, as families marked the occasion with great festivity. It is humbling for me to be invited into people’s
lives so completely, and so generously.
Not only that, but when Saint Bernadette folks have a party, it is
invariably great fun.
And since we draw such energy from bringing Christ’s
body into the lives of our young people, it is only fitting that we recognize
her who gave Him that flesh and blood, the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is the first tabernacle of the Lord who
dwells among us, and by her gracious acceptance of God’s will, what we receive
in Him came through her. It is only
fitting that we crown her not only with flowers but also with our affection and
love. Let me ask you not to neglect to
bring flowers to our Mary altar all month, any more than you would want to
neglect your own mom on Mother’s Day.
Reflecting on Mary makes it even more obvious what
our own mothers have done for us, and continue to do, especially in their
prayer for us. So let me wish all the
moms of our parish a blessed Mother’s Day!
Our faith is a faith of real people, and real
experiences, touched and changed by the presence and participation of God
Himself. Jesus is the Son of God, but
also and no less the Son of Mary. He
reveals Himself gently, not overwhelmingly, that we might choose to respond by
accepting Him. As the young Virgin
responded to the astonishing proposal brought by the angel with her humble, “be
it done unto me according to your word,” so do we all have the opportunity to
say, “so be it.”
Those beautiful children said their “so be it”
(“Amen”) to the God who desires to dwell in them, to make them members of His
body. They answered in one or two cases
self-consciously, in another few nervously, but in not one case half-heartedly,
and accepted the awesome gift and responsibility of carrying Christ in their
flesh.
You all know I am no angel, but when I pause at that
instant after I have said to you, “The Body of Christ,” I look and listen for
your response, not only the syllables of “Amen,” but the intention to accept
what at God’s command I offer – a participation in the life of His Son. As did the angel when His Holy Mother consented
to bring Him into the world that first time, so do I rejoice when I receive
your consent to bear him into the world today.
Each time I detect that, I am reminded why I am a priest.
Monsignor Smith
