December 14th, 2022

Embrace the Grace - Weekly Reflection

“This is my Body which will be given up for you?”

We hear these words within Holy Mass. As the people of God kneel, the priest elevates the host and speaks the words of Christ. Although our physical eyes see a white circular piece of bread, the eyes of faith know we see Jesus. The Eucharist is truly Christ’s Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity.

Now imagine the baby Jesus resting in a manger as Mary and Joseph quietly wonder what God is doing in and through them. They could not yet know that as God took on human flesh, he was already speaking to all of humanity. “This is my Body which will be given up for you.”

A manger was a place where animals ate their food. This is no coincidence. This baby king was born in Bethlehem, a name that means “house of bread.” See where this is going? Jesus would give His Body for us on the cross of Calvary. In the wake of the Resurrection, Jesus would feed us His Body in the gift of the Eucharist. “I am the Bread of Life,” Jesus says.

This is so mysteriously beautiful. God desires us to have life in Him, and the most intimate way he does this is through the Eucharist. We approach the “manger” with the simplicity of a hungry animal on a cool winter night, and yet we know partially the depth of this salvific mystery.

What is God up to? We can’t yet see the whole picture, but as Mary and Joseph trusted in the Lord, we too are challenged to trust God and be His obedient, loving instruments in the present moment.

Fr. Bob

1. A Mass intention may be requested for a Mass for the following reasons:
   1. A deceased loved one.
   2. A living person who is sick or suffering.
   3. A living person who is celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or other special moments in their life.
   4. In thanksgiving to God (including the Lord Jesus or the Holy Spirit).
   5. In thanksgiving for a prayer from a Blessed or a Saint.
   6. Or for a prayer intention (so long as the intention does not contradict Church teaching).
2. A Mass intention may not be requested for a prayer intention that contradicts Catholic moral doctrine.
3. There is a limit of four (4) intentions per Mass. If a given Mass has four intentions on a given day, please choose another Mass.
4. Lengthy intention listings cannot be published in the Bulletin and must be edited for brevity. Since publishing the intention in the Bulletin is to notify the family and friends of the intention, we suggest omitting middle initials, titles, etc. Each intention is limited to either two names or one group. Please indicate if the person for whom the Mass is requested is living or deceased.
5. A $10 donation is to accompany each Mass request. Intentions will not be recorded until the stipend is received. Canon Law requires that all stipends taken for Mass Intentions be said for the intention as designated.
6. Please note that Mass intentions may be requested for Sundays, most holidays, and weekdays throughout the year.  Mass intentions cannot be scheduled for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, Easter, All Saints Day, All Souls Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, News Years Day. One Mass every Sunday and one Mass on a Holy Day of Obligation must be scheduled for the intentions of our parishioners, known as Pro Populo (For the People), as required by Canon Law.
7. Announced Mass requests will be granted as close to the requested date and time as possible. If it is not possible to comply with the primary request, the next closest date and time will be scheduled.