Father David’s Letter
May 5, 2024
Dear St. Mary Parish Family,
“In truth I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.” – Acts 10:34-35 (spoken by Peter)
It is curious to me and I think instructive for all of us that during the Sunday reading cycle for Easter we hear more frequently from Peter than we do the rest of the year. First it makes sense from the perspective of witness, since he was a significant eyewitness to Jesus’ resurrection. Second it makes sense because of the leadership role Peter had in the early Church. We recognize him as the first pope. And third, from the theological angle, it is fitting that Peter’s voice be prominent during the season of witness that we call Easter. Let’s take a little look at Peter as the Rock, specifically examining today’s first reading.
Peter, a husband, a fisherman, a salt of the earth man. Now, a fisher of men, an eyewitness, a prophet, a teacher of teachers, the Rock. The above verse is a part of the story wherein Peter has a vision and he is told by a voice from heaven to partake of animals that were considered unclean. Peter objects, prompting the voice to say “What God has made clean, you are not to call profane.” Of course the vision wasn’t really about food, but about people. Specifically, Gentiles, and in particular, a Roman centurion named Cornelius and his family. Through this vision Peter is instructed to go to Cornelius, to speak to him and his family, and to offer Jesus’ salvation to them through baptism. Peter then goes to Cornelius’ home. After Cornelius tells about his own vision and his desire to listen to all that Peter has been commanded by the Lord to speak, Peter makes the above exclamation of God’s impartiality. While Peter continues proclaiming Jesus to all present, including many Gentiles, the Holy Spirit comes upon them and they proceed to speak in tongues and glorify God. Upon witnessing all this, Peter then asks, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?” Of course the unspoken answer is no, no one should rightfully stop all the Gentiles present from being baptized. Peter ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and then he stayed with Cornelius and his family for a few days.
Why is this particular story so significant? It might not seem so to us. “Outsiders” come to Christ every day. But remember, ministry to the Gentiles wasn’t fully accepted yet. It was new and sporadic. Philip had an encounter with an Ethiopian eunuch. Paul has just begun preaching to the Gentiles. Peter himself had had struggles with accepting the call to minister to Gentiles. Therefore, this incident with Cornelius sets Peter aright in his thinking, and then through him the ministry to the Gentiles is confirmed and set in full motion. Some would object, but as a whole the Church would hear Peter’s words and consider his actions and follow suit. Shortly after this story Paul is set apart to begin his extensive missionary journeys, and the Twelve would bring to fulfillment the commission of Jesus for them to go to the ends of the earth preaching, teaching, and baptizing in his name. Peter’s authority was the key to all of this. It would always need to be that way.
This story is also indicative of how the Church was growing and developing organically through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus promised would happen. As we look forward in a couple of weeks to celebrating the great feast of the coming of the Spirit, we can reflect during this time about how the Spirit continues to move Christ’s Church steadily onward. Yes there are bumps in the road, sometimes big ones (Peter himself had them), because we humans are not perfect, and sometimes we in the Church fight against each other (sometimes the Apostles and saints strongly disputed each other), but in the end it is the Holy Spirit who keeps resetting our footing, like he did with Peter, and compels us to continue moving forward for the glory of God’s kingdom.
Happy Easter!
Fr. David
Father David’s Letter
April 28, 2024
Dear St. Parish Family,
This Sunday at the 10am Mass we celebrate our First Communion Mass. Our prayers go with our five precious boys and girls who are receiving the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist for the very first time! We pray that throughout their lives they will always have a special and singular place for Jesus in their hearts, and that they will always seek to draw closer to him and remain united with Jesus and his holy Church.
I do not remember my first Communion. I assume I was there. Well of course I was there! Although it may depend on what “there” means. Maybe I was there, but not there? Well, there, there now, where am I going with this?! Maybe here is where I’m going…. What doesn’t matter from that specific event in my life is how much I remember of it. What matters is that I remember the truth of it, the truth that I received Jesus’ Real, Living, and Substantial Body that day, and that I receive him every time at Mass. Memories may fade, but truth remains. As exciting as this Sunday is for our first communicants, and it should be, the memory of the experience may likely fade for them over time. But the truth of it, that their flesh was mystically and wonderfully united to Jesus’ Flesh this day, will never fade, because truth cannot diminish. It always is.
I would like to remind you of what the sacred Council of Trent in the 1500’s solemnly clarified regarding the doctrine of the Eucharist known as transubstantiation:
“Because Christ our Redeemer said that it was truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church of God, and this holy Council now declares again, that by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church #1376
As I write this it is Wednesday morning. This evening we will have a rehearsal for the first Communion Mass. This evening, as well as Sunday morning, I will speak to the children in simple terms about the significance of what will happen Sunday. I will ask them questions like why they are dressed up so nicely, what, or rather who they will receive, how do they know this, who is Jesus, and why this moment matters so much for the rest of their lives. Hopefully something of what they respond Sunday will strengthen the faith of the rest of us who have received Jesus in this way thousands of times over the course of our lifetimes.
One final thought for today. In the Catechism, numbers 1391-1401, the Church explains the “fruits of Holy Communion.” Here is one of those paragraphs I draw your attention to today:
Holy Communion augments our union with Christ. The principal fruit of receiving the Eucharist in Holy Communion is an intimate union with Christ Jesus. Indeed, the Lord said: “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” Life in Christ has its foundation in the Eucharistic banquet: “As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church #1391, quoting John 6:56-57
Therefore, faithfully and worthily participating in the Lord’s saving banquet of his living Flesh and Blood will help our children, and all of us, to always remain firmly granted onto Christ the true vine.
Happy First Communion Sunday!
Fr. David
If you still feel uncomfortable to attend Mass, the weekend Mass is still available on St. Mary’s Facebook page.
Here is the link to Spiritual Communion and Chaplet of the Blessed Sacrament: https://www.virgosacrata.com/spiritual-communion.html
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