January 5, 2010
Memorial of Saint John Neumann, bishop
By Beth DeCristofaro
In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)
When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:34)
Piety
Everyone who breathes, high and low, educated and ignorant, young and old, man and woman, has a mission, has a work. We are not sent into this world for nothing; we are not born at random; … As Christ has His work, we too have ours; as He rejoiced to do His work, we must rejoice in ours also. (From the diary of John Henry Neumann)
Study
A few weeks ago, at daily Mass, the words of the Consecration struck me in a renewed and forceful way: “The day before he suffered he took bread in his sacred hands and looking up to heaven, to you, his almighty Father he gave you thanks and praise. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: ‘Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you.’ (He then took the cup and said) ‘Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.’”
Not only was Jesus inviting me to partake in his sacrifice through the holy Eucharist but he continually invites me – invites all who seek God – to partake in his sacrifice through giving our own bodies and blood. By giving of ourselves, our bodies, our minds, our talents we join Jesus at the table. I do this as when I practice my vocation of visiting the sick. We do this as we accept the challenge of caring for children and for disabled or mentally challenged family or friends. We do so when we carry out the tasks of our jobs to the best of our ability and for the glory of God rather than ourselves. St. John Neumann did this as he left family and home for America in his desire to serve God as a priest. It is what we do as we schlep materials and write talks for our Cursillo weekends. “Do this in memory of me,” Jesus says. Use your God-given self in memory of me. Be me to those who live around you, Jesus requests.
Of course, I cannot give my body and blood in the fullness and in the perfection that Jesus did for me. After all, I have only five loves and two fish. In my imperfections I often grow tired, crabby, make silly or even hurtful mistakes, put myself first and choose temptations. I struggle with pride, fear and self-righteousness. But I am created and loved by God. In order to be renewed, nourished and guided I must follow Jesus rather deliberately even as the vast crowd did in Mark’s gospel. Jesus taught them and he fed them. Even today he teaches us and feeds us. In using myself as Jesus would have me do, through him, with him and in him, I can be courageous, humble, compassionate and generous. We live our lives in memory of him and can be, on a small and very human level, love in the world. And multitudes can be fed.
Action
John Henry Neumann, bishop of Philadelphia, wrote that previously unperceived meanings of Christian tradition, rooted in the eternal unchanging Christ event, come to light in each historical period. In what ways are you participating in the Eucharistic banquet? In what ways might Jesus be calling you to share your body and blood in order to build his kingdom? For what do you need to ask Jesus in order to fulfill his call to you?
