Why do we call human life sacred? It is an extraordinary word, yet I often use it without a passing thought. It is far more than saying that human life is precious, or non-negotiable or even invaluable. Sacred means holy, relating to God. How can we say that? If we believe it, what must we do? The tradition of the Church will tell us why our lives are sacred and todays Gospel will show us what to do about it. 

We read in the book of Genesis: “So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them”. (Ge 1:27). Jews and Christians have taken this very seriously and sought to understand what it means to be created in the image of God. Catholics have emphasized that God has revealed himself to us as the “Trinity”. Three persons in one being bound together by love. God is least badly understood as a community even a family. Therefore, we are created to be in relationship with God but also with each other. To paraphrase a key Church teaching: “a human person is not a solitary but a social being, and unless men and women relate themselves to others, they can neither live nor develop their potential” (Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, 12). 

Good morning, everyone.

It’s a great joy to be with you here at Saint Charles as we welcome into our community.

I’m sorry I got to get this right. I’m sorry. Olivia Ray and Margot Michel.

Yeah. I should know who I am welcoming into the community, but I guess I have a little bit of a pass because I haven’t been around for a while.

We return this week to Sunday Mass in “Ordinary Time”. The decoration of the church and the priest’s vestments will be in green, and the first reading of the Mass will be connected to the Gospel. This week we might think however that the reading from Kings on Elijah and Elisha contradict the Gospel but that is far from the case, indeed the possible contrast reminds us of a great truth.

 We take up our readings from St Luke today from where we left off before Lent. The disciples have acknowledged that he is, at very least, the Messiah and Jesus has told them that he must suffer and die in Jerusalem. They have reluctantly given at least intellectual assent to this and now Jesus is going to Jerusalem for his death and resurrection. Luke calls this “his time for being taken up”.

Monsignor was supposed to celebrate this mass today, but this would be his fourth mass for the weekend.

And I got back early, so I volunteered to celebrate, but I did not prepare a homily.

And as and as you know, there is nothing more dangerous than an old man without a script.

You weren’t supposed to laugh at that, but I in a sense do have one.

I was up in Cooperstown this morning. a couple who attends mass at the seven – they used, they sit right over there when they’re here.

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, referred to as the feast of Corpus Christi. It is also Father’s Day, and it is also June 19th. Three things coming together in one day.

But as we listen to the scripture, I think what we see in the second reading from today is how Paul shares with the people, what has been handed down, what has been passed on from him to others to the community of faith. And it is the recollection of what took place. The Last Supper. Jesus, as part of that Passover meal that he was celebrating with his disciples.

Now he took the bread, blessed it and gave it.

“This is my body” and how he took the wine and gave it and said, “This is my blood.”

In a sense, beginning the tradition of the Eucharist right then and there.

And you might say, well, why? Why was he doing that? What was the implications with his action at that point?