Corpus Christi

This past Sunday was the Feast of Corpus Christi, where we celebrate and rejoice in the Greatest Gift that God has given to us: namely, His Presence in our lives. He accomplished this great gift through the atoning death of Christ on the Cross, our Passover Victim. But the Great Passover doesn't end at the Cross, for marvelously, Jesus invites us to participate with Him! He gives us to eat of His Body and His Blood, participating in His Sacrifice. When He said, "Take, eat, this is My Body" and "Take, drink, this is My Blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant," these were not idle words, but the Word of God Most High--God the Word, who spoke the world into existence. Do we dare deny that His Word has power to create and change? Do we dare doubt that His Word is true? Or, rather, do we dare to actually take Christ at His Word, believing that what He said, He meant?

"There He is: King of Kings and Lord of Lords, hidden in the bread. To this extreme has He humbled Himself for love of you." -St. Josemaría Escrivá, The Way 538

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if anyone eats this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh." The Jews therefore began to argue with one another, saying, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?" Jesus therefore said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who 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. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me. This is the bread from heaven which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate, and died, he who eats this bread shall live forever."

This marvelous gift is so intensely personal, that Jesus Himself comes to each and every one of us, and abides with us! He does not overlook anyone who approaches Him at the Table. He will not neglect anyone who spends time with Him at His Tabernacle. Jesus' presence is abiding.

"When you approach the tabernacle remember that He has been waiting for you for twenty centuries." -St. JosemarĂ­a, 537

When we were at Canada's Wonderland on the 21st, we heard a band called Kutless, who sang of this beautiful truth, that even though we feel lost and alone in the teeming crowds, Jesus sees us, He knows us, and in the Most Blessed Sacrament, He makes Himself available to us.

Sea of Faces

I see the city lights all around me
Everyone's obscure
Ten million people each with their problems
Why should anyone care

And in Your eyes I can see
I am not just a man, vastly lost in this world
Lost in a Sea of Faces
Your Body's the bread, Your Blood is the wine
Because You traded Your life for mine

Sometimes my life it feels so trivial
Immersed in the greatness of space
Yet somehow You still find the time for me
It's then You show me Your love

And In Your eyes I can see
And in Your arms I will be
I am not just a man, vastly lost in this world
Lost in a Sea of Faces
Your Body's the bread, Your Blood is the wine
Because You traded Your life for mine

If only my one heart
Was all You'd gain from all it cost
Well I know You would have still been a Man
With a reason
To willingly offer Your life

I am not just a man, vastly lost in this world
Lost in a Sea of Faces
Your Body's the bread, Your Blood is the wine
Because You traded Your life for mine

Just one in a million faces

"What a source of grace there is in spiritual communion! Practise it frequently and you'll have greater presence of God and closer union with Him in all your actions." -St. JosemarĂ­a, 540

Let us take the opportunity to come before the Throne of God (Hebrews 4:16), to partake of this marvelous gift! Let us worthily partake of the Eucharist, and receive the Grace of the Presence of Jesus in our lives! And let us spend time with Jesus, face to face, in prayer before the Host in adoration!

"Don't omit your visits to the blessed sacrament. After saying your usual prayer, tell Jesus, really present in the tabernacle, about the cares and worries of your day. And He will give you light and courage for your life as a Christian." -St. JosemarĂ­a, 554

O come! Let us adore Him!

"Who We Are Instead" pt.5

Called to be Saints

I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.
-Romans 12:1-2

The Christian life isn't just about "fire insurance", or doing the "bare minimum" to make God happy so He doesn't send us to Hell. God has brought us into His family, made us sharers in His divine nature. He has made us New Creatures--and those New Creatures ultimately will look like Christ. God wants us to be like Him! Our Christian faith, then, is the process by which He makes us more and more perfect in Him--so that, when all is said and done, when we arrive before His throne, we will be saints!

God doesn't want any less than that from His Children. He tells us in 1 Peter 1:13-16, that we must, "therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance, but, as He who has called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, 'Be holy because I am holy.'"

In the above passages (Romans and 1 Peter) we are encouraged to live our lives as a sacrifice. It is no longer our own, but belongs to God, because He bought us with a price: His blood shed on the cross! In repayment for His sacrifice for us, we need to offer our lives to Him, to live completely sold-out to Him! We owe Him nothing less! Both St. Peter and St. Paul say that we must not conform ourselves to the ways of the world. We have to live a cut above! How do we accomplish that?

"Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed Himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among saints, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God" (Ephesians 5:1-5).

This is a daunting word! This is a hard instruction! Who can accomplish such a thing, and live such a life?! How can God expect this from us? This is how! He asks us first to yield to Him, and then He Himself makes us able to live the life! St. Paul writes, "I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6). God starts the work in us, and works in us to complete it. But we have an obligation. We have to work at this new life, to attain salvation. St. Paul says later on in Philippians, "So then, my brethren, obedient as you have always been...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (2:12). But this work is only a result of God's grace in us, and is only done through Him, as the very next verse says: "For God is the one who, for His good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work" (v.13).

God calls us to live holy lives, worthy of the name Saints, and then He Himself causes us to be able to live that life! He, in us, makes us holy as we cooperate with the graces that He gives us. This is what St. Augustine meant when he wrote, "What merit, then, does a man have before grace, by which he might receive grace, when our every good merit is produced in us only by grace and when God, crowning our merits, crowns nothing else but his own gifts to us?" (Letters, 194:5:19).

So then, let us take up the call, and live the life of obedience to and imitation of God! Let us fulfil our destiny of sainthood, as we yield to God's work of Holiness in our lives!

And now, to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you unblemished and exultant,
In the presence of His glory,
To the Only God, our Saviour,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
Be glory and majesty,
Power and authority
From ages past, now, and for ages to come.
Amen. -Jude 24,25

This concludes our series, "Who We Are Instead." I pray the truths here will help you to live the abundant life that Jesus has for all of us, so that we may one day stand in His presence as saints! Amen.

"Who We Are Instead" pt.4

Life to the Full

We had a bigger turn-out Sunday. That was cool. We had fun, too, since that was the theme. I was a little disorganised, though, because Melissa and I had just got back from a wedding in Whitby that weekend. I thought it went well, though.

A lot of people get the impression that Christianity is a bunch of rules, a bunch of do's and don't's. They think it's no fun to be religious.

Jesus, on the other hand, has this to say:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:1-11).

What is He saying? He's saying that He didn't come to bring us rules and boredom, but life--abundant life! Jesus offers us peace and joy through His Spirit in our lives!

In verse 10 Jesus says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." This is Satan, and that is all that he wants to do with our lives, destroy them, and make us as miserable as possible. Like we talked about last week, the Christian life is a war, a war against this thief, the destroyer of our lives. He promises us happiness, life, and freedom. But his version leads only to pain. Yes, sin can bring momentary pleasure, but it only lasts for a moment, then comes guilt and pain and sadness. It is never fulfilling. Even when Satan offers something that is in and of itself good, when we seek that as the ultimate Good, it leaves us wanting.

In our lives, we search for happiness, joy, peace, and meaning. Many people go through their lives trying to fill a void in their hearts with different things, like sex, alcohol or drugs, parties, popularity, success, money, and many other things. But only Jesus can bring us true fulfilment. Blaise Pascal once remarked that every heart has a God-shaped void, or as St. Augustine put it, "Thou hast made us for Thyself, and restless are our hearts until they find their rest in Thee."

Jesus says, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." Jesus never promised us an easy life, but He did promise an abundant life, a full life. I believe that that means in this current life as well as in eternal life with God in Heaven!

Sin blocks us from the Truth, but God has reached out to us through this barrier. When we seek happiness or meaning from a source other than Jesus, it is ultimately temporary and unfulfilling. Jesus says we need to go to Him for fulfilment. God didn't set up the rules to keep us from the fun, but to protect us from harm. It is said that telling the truth is easier, because you don't have to remember what you said. In the same way, in a sense, living a righteous life is easier, because we're saved from the regret and guilt that come from sin. On the other hand, it is the harder road, because the sinful things seem so tempting, so rewarding. This is why we need to stay close to Jesus, our only true source of fulfilment. When we stay close to Him, we'll see all those other things for what they are.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well" (Matthew 6:33).

When I was in high school, I went to a few parties, and more than once there was a lot of drinking going on. For myself, I don't drink (mainly because I can't stand the taste of alcohol). But a lot of my friends drank, heavily. It was as if they didn't know how to, or couldn't, enjoy themselves when they were sober. I hated those parties, because I would see good people making asses out of themselves, because they were no longer in control. And this was supposed to be "fun". It made me so sad.

God has made us for so much more! St. Paul writes, "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). I think many times people try to have "fun" in order to escape themselves. But through Jesus' Spirit, we know who we are! There is no loathing, no condemnation, but joy! We don't need to go get wasted to have fun, to be happy!

Just a reminder: We're heading down to Wonderland on Saturday. I need to know today that you're going! Post here (with an email address) or email me directly at watchman317ca @yahoo.ca if you're interested in going, so I can email you a permission form. If I don't hear from you by 5, you missed the boat.

God bless you abundantly!

"Who We Are Instead" pt.3

History Makers


Sorry it's been so long since I've posted. Last week was really busy. Here's the talk from May 1st on being History Makers. This week was Mother's Day, so we took a week off of Youth Group so you could spend it with your mom. God bless!

In part 2 we talked about how our identity in Christ is based on His Grace that He freely gives us. It's His Grace that saves us and makes us members of His Covenant. It's His Grace that makes us New Creatures. And more, according to Ephesians 2:10, He has made us His Workmanship, His poetry!

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Later on in Ephesians, St. Paul tells us why it's so important that we understand God's Grace in our lives. The Christian life isn't always all peace and roses. It's War!

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:10-18

In the Book of Revelation (chapter 12), the Devil is said to be full of rage, and has gone off to wage war on Mary's "other children", those who "Keep God's commandments and bear witness to Jesus" (v.17). That's us! That's why Jesus has given us His Armour!

Now before you run to your closet to see if you might have missed the shiny metal outfit, let's break down what St. Paul is talking about when he discusses the Armour of God. The first thing he lets us know is that it's a Spiritual armour for a spiritual battle: "For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (v.12).

Pope John Paul 2, when he was living, spoke out often against the Culture of Death that dominates our society. This Culture of Death is the physical, earthly manifestation of the Devil's spiritual power. He seeks to destroy God's creation, especially the New Creation! We must answer the Call to promote the Culture of Life in our world. We aren't talking about killing the unbeliever or somesuch. This isn't about waging literal war on sinners, or bombing abortion clinics, or crazy psycho stuff like that! St. Paul tells us plainly, the flesh and blood people aren't the enemy, even when they seem like it. Why? Because behind that opposition lies the real enemy, Satan, and his powers and spiritual hosts of wickedness. The people are the victims, and need Christ's grace and salvation as much as any of us. That's why we have to wage the spiritual war! So how do we do that? Let's look at the Armour.

1: The Belt of Truth--This is the foundation to the entire armour. It holds the rest of the pieces in place. Knowing the Truth will set us free, according to Jesus (John 8:32). He promised that He would send us His Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, who would guide us into all truth! God's first gift of Grace to us is to know His Truth to establish our way. He did this by sending us Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life! That's why it's so important that we stick close to the Spirit inside us, and to the Church, "The Pillar and Foundation of the Truth" (1 Timothy 3:15). Just like belts hold our pants up, the Belt of Truth holds the rest of our armour in place!

2: The Breastplate of Righteousness--When we know the Truth, we have to act on it. That's being righteous or just. We need to live the truth, otherwise, what good is it? Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15). When we live out our Christian beliefs in a spirit of charity, people will notice the difference it makes. When we stand up for the truth, for what's right, people will pay attention. They will ask us about it, and as St. Peter writes, we must always be prepared to give an answer to the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15). This brings us to the next part of our armour...

3: The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace--Before Jesus went up to Heaven, as we celebrated at Mass today (Ascension Sunday) He gave us the Great Commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20). This going is why St. Paul equates the Gospel with Shoes. And for someone who spent his Christian life as a missionary travelling throughout the Roman Empire, St. Paul knew what going was all about! He tells us that the same must be true of us, that we must be prepared to Go where God sends us, and tell others about Him!

4: The Shield of Faith--If we're going to be a witness to Christ, we need to believe in Him (I hope that's obvious!). But faith here is more than mere acceptance of Christ--it's a lifestyle of reliance on Him. It's presented as a shield that deflects Satan's attacks, because it is our faith, lived out, that reminds us of the truth that God loves us and has made us new creatures! The Shield of Faith is our greatest defence against sin, because we can hold it up when the Devil tries to tell us the lie that we are worthless, that God doesn't really care about us. It defends us from sin, because we believe that God has something greater for us than the momentary pleasure that sin has to offer! The Shield gives us a reminder of why we wear the Breastplate--our Faith and our Righteousness are our protection against Sin.

5: The Helmet of Salvation--Protecting our head, our most vulnerable and most vital part of us, is Salvation! It is our Helmet, because it comes directly from Christ, the Head of His Body, the Church. Our Salvation is what gives us life, it is the life of Christ in us--the Life that makes us New Creatures!

6: The Sword of the Spirit--Our primary weapon in this fight is the Word of God, called a Sword. Knowing the Word is our best offence against the Devil. When he comes to tempt us, we parry with the Shield of Faith, knowing God has something better, and we thrust with the Sword, His Word, to drive back the Devil. The greatest illustration of this is in Matthew 4, where Jesus Himself teaches us about the combat. When he is tempted by the Devil after 40 days of fasting, He resists the temptation by quoting the Word of God at the Devil until the Devil has to flee! But in order to wield the Sword, we need to know it, to practice with it. We need to read the Word of God, to memorize portions, to allow God's Spirit to speak to us through it! A man with a sword he cannot wield is just as useless as a man with no sword, and possibly more dangerous to himself and those around him! We must know God's Word intimately, because that is why He gave it to us!

7: All Prayer and Supplication--Our other weapon is just as important and just as powerful, and it is one that can be used by anyone, in any situation! Prayer expresses our dependence on God, and invites Him to come and fight with us and for us! All prayer is powerful, and we need to practice it, to make it a habit. Otherwise, we may forget this valuable weapon until it is too late! Prayer is our contact with God; it is our lifeline to Him. That relationship is vital to our survival in this war! Do not neglect this gift, this weapon, especially the prayer of the Mass! It is the most powerful form of prayer, and we do major battle with the heavenlies when we participate in the Mass! Jesus defeated Satan on the Cross, and in the Mass, we unite our sacrifices to His in the Eucharist, claiming His victory in our own lives, and tag-teaming the Devil as it were!

Don't kid yourself. The battle is real. The early Christians were persecuted and killed for their beliefs--and that didn't end a thousand years ago. It still happens today. Sometimes we are blind to it, here in Canada, because we live in such a free country. But not all countries have the same luxury. The Church in China, for example, is illegal because of the Communist Government. Christianity is outlawed and persecuted in Islamic nations such as in the Middle East or Pakistan. People are arrested, beaten, and even killed for their faith! Yet it is there that the Church thrives and is powerful! Think for a moment about this. This Easter Vigil, at St. Andrews, 5 people became Catholics! Glory to God! But think about this--in Communist Hong Kong, 100,000 people were baptised as Catholics at the Easter Vigil! Why, in a country where faith is outlawed, is it growing so astoundingly? Because they are aware of the War!

We here can be comfortable, complacent, and apathetic! We don't see the war, because the Devil has lulled us into a false sense of security. But little by little, he takes away our freedoms, and we let him! Abortions have no restrictions in this country, and haven't for 30 someodd years! Gay Marriage is being recognised and legitimised all over! Euthanasia is becoming more widely accepted! "Tolerance" is the buzzword when it comes to religion, and people are happy to be tolerant of everyone but Christians, because we dare, we have the audacity, the gall, to assert that there is an absolute truth, and His name is Jesus!

We need to wake up, to rise up, and to realise that God didn't give us His Grace for nothing. He didn't make us into New Creatures for nothing! He made us His Warriors, His Soldiers, and we need to take a stand for Him! We need to become History Makers for His Kingdom!

History Maker
Delirious? Words by Martin Smith

Is it true today
That when people pray
Cloudless skies will break
Kings and queens will shake?

Yes it's true and I believe it
I'm living for You

Is it true today
That when people pray
We'll see dead men rise
And the blind set free?

Yes it's true and I believe it
I'm living for You

I'm gonna be a history maker in this land
I'm gonna be a speaker of truth to all mankind
I'm gonna stand, I'm gonna run
Into Your arms, into Your arms again
Into Your arms, into Your arms again

Yes it's true today
That when people stand
with the fire of God,
And the truth in hand
We'll see miracles,
We'll see angels sing
We'll see broken hearts
Making history

Yes it's true and we believe it
We're living for You

I'm gonna be a history maker in this land
I'm gonna be a speaker of truth to all mankind
I'm gonna stand, I'm gonna run
Into Your arms, into Your arms again
Into Your arms, into Your arms again