>> A READING FROM THE BOOK OF WISDOM. GOD DID NOT MAKE DEATH, NOR DOES HE REJOICE IN THE DESTRUCTION OF THE LIVING. FOR HE FASHIONED ALL THINGS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE BEING, AND THE CREATURES OF THE WORLD ARE WHOLESOME, AND THERE IS NOT A DESTRUCTIVE DRUG AMONG THEM NOR ANY DOMAIN OF THE NETHERWORLD ON EARTH, FOR JUSTICE IS UNDYING. FOR GOD FORMED MAN TO BE IMPERISHABLE, THE IMAGE OF HIS OWN NATURE HE MADE HIM. BUT BY THE ENVY OF THE DEVIL, DEATH ENTERED THE WORLD, AND THEY WHO BELONG TO HIS COMPANY EXPERIENCE IT. ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> ♪ DEO GRATIAS ♪ (ORGAN) >> ♪ I WILL PRAISE YOU, LORD, FOR YOU HAVE RESCUED ME ♪ >> ♪ I WILL PRAISE YOU, LORD, FOR YOU HAVE RESCUED ME ♪ >> ♪ I WILL EXTOL YOU, O LORD, FOR YOU HAVE RAISED ME UP AND DID NOT LET MY ENEMIES REJOICE OVER ME ♪ ♪ O LORD, YOU BROUGHT ME UP FROM THE NETHERWORLD, YOU PRESERVED ME FROM AMONG THOSE GOING DOWN INTO THE PIT ♪ >> ♪ I WILL PRAISE YOU, LORD, FOR YOU HAVE RESCUED ME ♪ >> ♪ SING PRAISE TO THE LORD, YOU HIS FAITHFUL ONES, AND GIVE THANKS TO HIS HOLY NAME ♪ ♪ HIS ANGER LASTS BUT A MOMENT, HIS FAVOR ALL THROUGH LIFE, AT NIGHT FALL, BRINGS TEARS BUT WITH THE DAWN BRINGS REJOICING ♪ >> ♪ I WILL PRAISE YOU, LORD, FOR YOU HAVE RESCUED ME ♪ >> ♪ HEAR, O LORD, AND HAVE MERCY ON ME ♪ ♪ O LORD, BE MY HELPER ♪ ♪ YOU CHANGED MY MOURNING INTO DANCING ♪ ♪ O LORD, MY GOD, FOREVER WILL I GIVE YOU THANKS ♪ >> ♪ I WILL PRAISE YOU, LORD, FOR YOU HAVE RESCUED ME ♪ >> A READING FROM THE SECOND LETTER OF ST. PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS. BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AS YOU EXCEL IN EVERY RESPECT, IN FAITH, DISCOURSE, KNOWLEDGE, ALL EARNESTNESS, AND IN THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR YOU, MAY YOU EXCEL IN THIS GRACIOUS ACT ALSO. FOR YOU KNOW THE GRACIOUS ACT OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THAT THOUGH HE WAS RICH, FOR YOUR SAKE HE BECAME POOR, SO THAT BY HIS POVERTY YOU MIGHT BECOME RICH. NOT THAT OTHERS SHOULD HAVE RELIEF WHILE YOU ARE BURDENED, BUT THAT AS A MATTER OF EQUALITY YOUR ABUNDANCE AT THE PRESENT TIME SHOULD SUPPLY THEIR NEEDS, SO THAT THEIR ABUNDANCE MAY ALSO SUPPLY YOUR NEEDS, THAT THERE MAY BE EQUALITY. AS IT IS WRITTEN, WHOEVER HAD MUCH DID NOT HAVE MORE, AND WHOEVER HAD LITTLE DID NOT HAVE LESS. ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> ♪ DEO GRATIAS ♪ (ORGAN) >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST DESTROYED DEATH AND BROUGHT LIFE TO LIGHT THROUGH THE GOSPEL ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> FATHER: ♪ DOMINUS VOBISCUM ♪ >> ♪ ET CUM SPIRITU TUO ♪ >> FATHER: ♪ LECTIO SANCTI EVANGELII SECUNDUM MARCUM ♪ >> ♪ GLORIA TIBI, DOMINE ♪ >> FATHER: WHEN JESUS HAD CROSSED AGAIN IN THE BOAT TO THE OTHER SIDE, A LARGE CROWD GATHERED AROUND HIM, AND HE STAYED CLOSE TO THE SEA. ONE OF THE SYNAGOGUE OFFICIALS, NAMED JAIRUS, CAME FORWARD. SEEING HIM, HE FELL AT HIS FEET AND PLEADED EARNESTLY WITH HIM, SAYING, "MY DAUGHTER IS AT THE POINT OF DEATH. PLEASE, COME LAY YOUR HANDS ON HER THAT SHE MAY GET WELL AND LIVE." HE WENT OFF WITH HIM, AND A LARGE CROWD FOLLOWED HIM AND PRESSED UPON HIM. THERE WAS A WOMAN AFFLICTED WITH HEMORRHAGES FOR TWELVE YEARS. SHE HAD SUFFERED GREATLY AT THE HANDS OF MANY DOCTORS AND HAD SPENT ALL THAT SHE HAD. YET SHE WAS NOT HELPED BUT ONLY GREW WORSE. SHE HAD HEARD ABOUT JESUS AND CAME UP BEHIND HIM IN THE CROWD AND TOUCHED HIS CLOAK. SHE SAID, "IF I BUT TOUCH HIS CLOTHES, I SHALL BE CURED." IMMEDIATELY HER FLOW OF BLOOD DRIED UP. SHE FELT IN HER BODY THAT SHE WAS HEALED OF HER AFFLICTION. JESUS, AWARE AT ONCE THAT POWER HAD GONE OUT FROM HIM, TURNED AROUND IN THE CROWD AND ASKED, "WHO HAS TOUCHED MY CLOTHES?" BUT HIS DISCIPLES SAID TO JESUS, "YOU SEE HOW THE CROWD IS PRESSING UPON YOU, AND YET YOU ASK, 'WHO TOUCHED ME?'" AND HE LOOKED AROUND TO SEE WHO HAD DONE IT. THE WOMAN, REALIZING WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HER, APPROACHED IN FEAR AND TREMBLING. SHE FELL DOWN BEFORE JESUS AND TOLD HIM THE WHOLE TRUTH. HE SAID TO HER, "DAUGHTER, YOUR FAITH HAS SAVED YOU. GO IN PEACE AND BE CURED OF YOUR AFFLICTION." WHILE HE WAS STILL SPEAKING, PEOPLE FROM THE SYNAGOGUE OFFICIAL'S HOUSE ARRIVED AND SAID, "YOUR DAUGHTER HAS DIED. WHY TROUBLE THE TEACHER ANY LONGER?" DISREGARDING THE MESSAGE THAT WAS REPORTED, JESUS SAID TO THE SYNAGOGUE OFFICIAL, “DO NOT BE AFRAID, JUST HAVE FAITH.” HE DID NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO ACCOMPANY HIM INSIDE EXCEPT PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN, THE BROTHER OF JAMES. WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE HOUSE OF THE SYNAGOGUE OFFICIAL, HE CAUGHT SIGHT OF A COMMOTION, PEOPLE WEEPING AND WAILING LOUDLY. SO HE WENT IN AND SAID TO THEM, "WHY THIS COMMOTION AND WEEPING? THE CHILD IS NOT DEAD BUT ASLEEP." AND THEY RIDICULED HIM, THEN HE PUT THEM ALL OUT. HE TOOK ALONG THE CHILD'S FATHER AND MOTHER AND THOSE WHO WERE WITH HIM AND ENTERED THE ROOM WHERE THE CHILD WAS. HE TOOK THE CHILD BY THE HAND AND SAID TO HER, "TALITHA KOUM" WHICH MEANS, "LITTLE GIRL, I SAY TO YOU, ARISE!" THE GIRL, A CHILD OF TWELVE, AROSE IMMEDIATELY AND WALKED AROUND. AT THAT THEY WERE UTTERLY ASTOUNDED. HE GAVE STRICT ORDERS THAT NO ONE SHOULD KNOW THIS AND SAID THAT SHE SHOULD BE GIVEN SOMETHING TO EAT. ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> ♪ LAUS TIBI, CHRISTE ♪ >> Father: OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST DESTROYED DEATH AND BROUGHT LIFE TO LIGHT THROUGH THE GOSPEL. FROM THE ALLELUIA VERSE OF TODAY'S MASS. AND DEATH AND LIFE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN CONFLICT. THE BOOK OF WISDOM TELLS US THAT GOD DID NOT MAKE DEATH NOR DOES HE REJOICE IN THE DESTRUCTION OF THE LIVING. OUR ONE GOD IN THREE DIVINE PERSONS, THE BLESSED TRINITY, IS THE GOD OF THE LIVING. DEATH ENTERED THE WORLD BECAUSE OF THE ENVY OF THE ARROGANT DEVIL WHO WILL NOT SERVE GOD, WHO WILL NEVER SERVE GOD, AND WILL ALWAYS REBEL AGAINST GOD. DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN OPPOSITION AND ALWAYS IN BATTLE WITH ONE ANOTHER. TODAY'S GOSPEL PASSAGE IS AN AWESOME ONE, BECAUSE THROUGH IT, WE SEE HOW DEATH IS CONQUERED BY LIFE. WE HAVE JAIRUS AND HIS PREVIOUSLY ILL DAUGHTER. WE HAVE THIS WOMAN, WE DON'T KNOW HER NAME, HER NAME IS NEVER MENTIONED, AND SHE'S AFFLICTED WITH HEMORRHAGING FOR 12 YEARS. SO, THE YEAR THAT JAIRUS' DAUGHTER WAS BORN IS THE SAME YEAR THAT THIS WOMAN STARTED TO HAVE HER AFFLICTION. POOR WOMAN, SHE SUFFERED GREATLY. SHE WENT TO MANY DOCTORS. SHE SPENT MUCH MONEY. IN FACT, THE GOSPEL TELLS US THAT SHE SPENT ALL THAT SHE HAD, ALL THAT SHE HAD. UNFORTUNATELY, SHE GOT NOTHING OUT OF IT BUT ONLY GREW WORSE. SO, WHEN JAIRUS MET OUR DEAR LORD JESUS, OUR LORD PROMPTLY, IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED TO HIM GENEROUSLY BY GOING OFF WITH JAIRUS AND A VERY LARGE CROWD FOLLOWED HIM ON THEIR WAY TO THE HOUSE OF JAIRUS. AND WE'RE TOLD THAT THE CROWD PRESSED UPON OUR LORD. THIS REMINDED ME THIS MORNING, AS I WAS PREPARING THIS, BROUGHT TO MIND THE TIME I WAS IN SYDNEY FOR THE WORLD YOUTH DAY WITH SOME OF THE FRIARS. THERE WAS THE USUAL PROGRAM FOR THE DAY, AND THE LAST ONE IS ALWAYS THE CLOSING MASS, GRAND CLOSING MASS. AND AT THAT TIME, IT WAS WITH POPE BENEDICT. AFTER THAT CLOSING MASS, WE ALL WENT BACK TO WHERE WE STAYED. USUALLY, THE PLACE WHERE THE MASS IS LOCATED FOR THE CLOSING MASS IS ALWAYS, LIKE, OUT IN THE BOONDOCKS SOMEWHERE, THAT YOU YOU HAVE TO WALK QUITE A BIT. SO, ANYWAY, I REMEMBER AFTER THE CLOSING MASS, WE WERE HEADING BACK. THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE, SO MANY PEOPLE. I COULD SEE IT FROM FAR AWAY, THERE WAS ONE SECTION WHERE PEOPLE ARE JUST KIND OF CRAMPED UP AND THE ROAD WAS GETTING SMALLER AND SMALLER AND EVENTUALLY JUST A REGULAR ROAD BUT THERE WAS A MASS OF PEOPLE ON THE ROAD AND YOU COULD SEE IT FROM FAR AWAY. AND I SAID, OKAY. HERE I GO. BASICALLY, WE WERE ALL PACKED LIKE SARDINES IN A CAN AND I MEAN, LIKE, LITERALLY. FRONT, BACK, SIDE BY SIDE AND OTHER. AND YOU COULDN'T REALLY MAKE A MOVE. YOU JUST GO WITH THE FLOW WHEREVER THEY GO. YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOUR FEET IS MOVING WHEN THEY ARE MOVING OTHERWISE, YOU COULD FALL AND GET TRAMPLED UPON, TYPE OF THING. SO, IT REMINDED ME OF THIS EXPERIENCE IN SYDNEY AND I WAS THINKING HOW THE VERY LARGE CROWD WAS FOLLOWING OUR LORD AND THEY WERE PRESSING UPON HIM. AGAIN, ST. MARK TELLS US TODAY THAT A LARGE CROWD FOLLOWED JESUS AND PRESSED UPON HIM. AND SO, OUR LORD AND JAIRUS ARE HEADED TO JAIRUS' HOME. AND THERE WAS THIS WOMAN, WHO WAS AFFLICTED, AND SHE WAS ONE OF THOSE IN THE LARGE CROWD. AND THIS WOMAN WAS AN AMAZING WOMAN, WE DON'T KNOW HER NAME, BUT SHE HAS SUCH AWESOME CONFIDENCE AND FAITH IN THE LORD. OBVIOUSLY, SHE WAS NOT CLOSE TO HIM OR NOT PRESSING AGAINST HIM IN THE LARGE CROWD. I IMAGINE SHE WAS VERY CLOSE TO HIM BUT NOT CLOSE ENOUGH. AND SHE WAS DETERMINED TO MAKE A GREAT EFFORT TO GET NEAR HIM. SHE DID EVENTUALLY, WAS ABLE TO TOUCH HIS CLOTHES. IF I BUT TOUCH HIS CLOTHES, I SHALL BE CURED! WHAT CONFIDENCE AND BELIEF IN THE POWER OF OUR LORD. AND SHE DID GET CURED. SHE WAS CURED IMMEDIATELY AND SHE FELT IT. SHE FELT IT. AND OUR LORD FELT THAT POWER HAD GONE OUT FROM HIM. THE NEXT THING, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS RATHER HUMOROUS, AND I CAN SEE THE SCENE IN MY MIND. AND IMAGINE HIM IN THE PACKED SARDINES TYPE SITUATION, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, OUR LORD, WHO HAS TOUCHED MY CLOTHES, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AROUND FOR THE PERSON WHO TOUCHED HIM. AND THE DISCIPLES RESPONDED, WE'RE NOT TOLD WHO SAID IT, BUT I CAN IMAGINE PETER SINCE OFTEN HE'S THE SPOKESMAN OF THE GROUP. AND YOU SEE HOW THE CROWD IS PRESSING UPON YOU AND YET, YOU ASKED, WHO TOUCHED ME? AGAIN, THE WOMAN OBVIOUSLY HEARD THE LORD'S QUESTION. SHE HEARD THE LORD'S QUESTION. SHE WAS NOT TOUCHING HIM BUT SHE WAS CLOSE ENOUGH, BUT NOT CLOSE ENOUGH. AND HEARD OUR LORD'S QUESTION. SHE HEARD THE DISCIPLES' RESPONSE. AND FEELING AFRAID, AND ACTUALLY TREMBLING, JUST TRY TO PUT THIS IN YOUR MIND WHAT EXACTLY IS HAPPENING. FEELING AFRAID, ACTUALLY TREMBLING AND AT THE SAME TIME SHE FELT BETTER! SHE FELT BETTER! THE BEST OUT OF THE 12 YEARS OF HER LIFE SINCE SHE WAS SUFFERING WITH THIS AFFLICTION. SO, SHE FINALLY APPROACHED OUR LORD, FELL DOWN BEFORE HIM AND ADMITTED, IT WAS ME. IT WAS ME. I'M THE ONE WHO TOUCHED YOUR CLOTHES. AND THEN SHE STARTED TELLING WHAT HAPPENED. SHE HAD BEEN SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY AND NO DOCTORS WERE ABLE TO HELP HER BUT HER SUFFERING GREW WORSE. AND SHE WANTED TO FEEL BETTER. I WANTED TO TOUCH YOU BUT I COULDN'T REACH YOU AND I TOUCHED YOUR CLOTHES. AND I FELT BETTER! AND THE LORD DISMISSED HER AS YOU HEARD. AND THE LORD ASSURED HER, HER FAITH HAS SAVED HER AND HER AFFLICTION IS CURED. AS WE HEARD, THIS IS LIKE A MIRACLE WITHIN A MIRACLE, RIGHT? THE JOURNEY. SO, AS WE HEARD, THEY CONTINUE ON THE JOURNEY TO JAIRUS' HOME AND BY THIS TIME, THE DAUGHTER ACTUALLY DIED. SO, WHEN THE FATHER CAME TO OUR LORD AND PRESENTED TO HIM THE SITUATION, SHE WAS STILL ALIVE. BUT THEN HE DID SAY, MY DAUGHTER IS AT THE POINT OF DYING. SO, AT THIS TIME, THE DAUGHTER ACTUALLY DIED. AND OUR LORD'S SACRED HAND, AS WE HEARD, TOOK THE CHILD BY THE HAND, GOT TO THE HOME AND TOOK THE CHILD BY THE HAND AND COMMANDED THE GIRL TO RISE. AND SHE DID RISE IMMEDIATELY AND DID WALK AROUND. A GREAT MIRACLE STORY. THERE IS LIFE WITH A CAPITAL L VERSUS DEATH RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES. CAPITAL L, LIFE VERSUS DEATH RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES. LIFE INCARNATE JESUS CHRIST RESTORED JAIRUS' LITTLE 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER FROM DEATH TO LIFE. DEATH IS DEFEATED. AND DEATH IS DEFEATED BY THE INCARNATE OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOR, AND GOD. I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE WOMAN AND THE LARGE CROWD. I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO THE WOMAN AND THE LARGE CROWD BEFORE I END THIS HOMILY. NOTICE THAT EVEN THOUGH MANY PEOPLE WERE PRESSING AGAINST OUR LORD, LITERALLY NEXT TO HIM BODY TO BODY, NOTHING HAPPENED. NO POWER CAME OUT OF HIM, NO EFFECT. NO EFFECT. BUT HERE'S THIS WOMAN, WITH A GREAT FAITH, GREAT CONFIDENCE, AND GREAT DESPERATION AT THE SAME TIME, BUT GREAT FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD, NOT TOUCHING THE LORD'S BODY AT ALL BUT ONLY HIS CLOTHES. ONLY HIS CLOTHES. YEAH. THEN POWER CAME OUT OF HIM, POWER CAME OUT OF HIM AND SHE RECEIVED HER HEALING IMMEDIATELY. YOU KNOW, WE CAN APPLY THIS, WE CAN APPLY THIS TO OUR RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION WITH OUR LORD JESUS. THIS IS THE SAME JESUS, WHEN WE RECEIVE OUR LORD IN HOLY COMMUNION, THIS IS THE SAME JESUS WHO RAISED UP THE 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS, AND THIS IS THE SAME JESUS WHOSE POWER CAME OUT OF HIM AND HEALED THE WOMAN. THIS IS THE SAME JESUS 2,000 + YEARS AGO IN THE LARGE CROWD, AND SAME JESUS WHO WE RECEIVE ON THE ALTAR AFTER THE CONSECRATION, THIS IS THE SAME LORD, JESUS CHRIST, IT'S ONE AND THE SAME JESUS. IT'S NOT A SYMBOL. IT'S NOT A RELIC. IT'S THE REAL THING! IT'S NOT A THING. IT'S A PERSON. IT'S A REAL PERSON, A PERSON WITH A CAPITAL P. WITH FLESH, BLOOD, AND DIVINITY. IT'S TRULY THE ETERNAL WORD MADE FLESH BEFORE US. WE NOT ONLY GET TO TOUCH HIS SACRED BODY, BUT WE GET TO HAVE HIM WITHIN US SO THAT WE ARE TRULY UNITED IN THE FLESH WITH HIM. NOW, HERE'S AN APPLICATION. HERE'S AN APPLICATION THROUGH QUESTIONS. WHY DID THE LARGE CROWD, PRESSING UPON HIM, HAVE NO EFFECT ON THEM? WHY DID THE LARGE CROWD PRESSING UPON HIM HAVE NO EFFECT ON THEM? WHY DID NOTHING HAPPEN TO THESE PEOPLE? AND WHY DID SOMETHING GREAT HAPPEN TO THE WOMAN WHO WAS AFFLICTED WITH HEMORRHAGES FOR 12 YEARS? WHY? WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? THE DIFFERENCE IS FAITH! THEY ARE TOUCHING THE SAME LORD, THEY ARE TOUCHING THE SAME LORD AND YET, THE EFFECT, THE FRUIT ONLY HAPPENS DEPENDING ON EACH PERSON'S DISPOSITION. LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN. THEY ARE TOUCHING THE SAME LORD AND YET, THE EFFECT, THE FRUIT ONLY HAPPENS DEPENDING ON EACH PERSON'S DISPOSITION. THIS IS THE SAME THING WITH RECEIVING OUR LORD IN HOLY COMMUNION. YOU AND I CAN BE RECEIVING EVERY SUNDAY OR EVEN EVERYDAY. AND THE QUESTION IS, DOES MY RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION MAKE A POSITIVE EFFECT ON ME? IS IT LIFE-CHANGING? AM I CHANGING TO BE A BETTER PERSON? WE MAY BE RECEIVING FOR MANY YEARS, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, IN HOLY COMMUNION BUT NO EFFECT, NO PROGRESS IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE OR MORAL LIFE. WHY? WHY? WHERE'S OUR FAITH WHEN WE RECEIVE? DO WE TREAT THE LORD AS A DEAD OBJECT? OR DO WE RECOGNIZE AND BELIEVE IN HIM AND HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE ONE THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED? DO YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST EIGHT BENEFITS FROM RECEIVING WORTHY COMMUNION? I DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO OVER ALL EIGHT THIS MORNING. SO I'M GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU AS AN ASSIGNMENT. THIS IS YOUR HOMEWORK! IT IS YOUR HOMEWORK TO LOOK IT UP, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION? IT'S RIGHT IN THE CATECHISM. AND WHEN YOU FIND IT, READ IT. READ ABOUT IT, THINK ABOUT IT, PRAY ABOUT IT, AND REFLECT UPON HIM. AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO READ IT SEVERAL TIMES. DO THAT. BUT TWO OF THE BENEFITS OF RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION IS THAT IT STRENGTHENS CHARITY AND ALSO, IT PRESERVES US FROM FUTURE MORTAL SINS. I'LL GIVE YOU THE NUMBER FOR THOSE TWO AND THEN YOU CAN FIGURE OUT THE REST. 1394 AND 1395. OKAY? SO, I'M JUST GOING TO READ YOU ONE PARAGRAPH. HERE'S PARAGRAPH 1395 OF THE CATECHISM, WHICH IS ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF WORTHILY RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION. THIS IS WHAT IT SAYS. "BY THE SAME CHARITY THAT IT ENKINDLES IN US, THE EUCHARIST PRESERVES US FROM FUTURE MORTAL SINS." THAT'S ONE OF THE BENEFITS! THAT'S ONE OF THE BENEFITS. THE EUCHARIST PRESERVES US FROM FUTURE MORTAL SINS. AND THEN IT SAYS THIS. "THE MORE WE SHARE THE LIFE OF CHRIST AND PROGRESS IN HIS FRIENDSHIP, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT IS TO BREAK AWAY FROM HIM BY MORTAL SIN." THEN IT SAYS THIS. THE LAST TWO SENTENCES SAYS THIS, "THE EUCHARIST IS NOT ORDERED TO THE FORGIVENESS OF MORTAL SINS. THAT IS PROPER TO THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION, TO CONFESSION. THE EUCHARIST IS NOT ORDERED TO THE FORGIVENESS OF MORTAL SINS, THAT IS PROPER TO THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION. THE EUCHARIST IS PROPERLY THE SACRAMENT OF THOSE WHO ARE IN FULL COMMUNION WITH THE CHURCH." SO, YES, YES, THERE'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE, A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN EFFECT AND IN THE FRUITS OF RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION. JUST LIKE THE LARGE CROWD PRESSING UPON THE LORD'S BODY, NOTHING HAPPENED. AND THEN THIS WOMAN WITH GREAT FAITH, GREAT CONFIDENCE, DIDN'T EVEN TOUCH HIS BODY, BUT JUST TOUCHED THE CLOTHES. THE CLOTHES TOUCHED HIS BODY. BUT IT'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE. YEAH, IN THE EFFECTS OF RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION. WHEN WE RECEIVE COMMUNION, WE ARE RECEIVING HIM TRULY AND REALLY. JUST LIKE LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO HEALED THE WOMAN IN THE GOSPEL AND RAISED UP THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS. YES, ONE MAY GAIN MORE FRUITS AND MORE POSITIVE EFFECT THAN THE OTHER AND MORE POSITIVE EFFECT, THAN THE OTHERS, BECAUSE YOU MAY GET MORE FRUITS THAN ME BECAUSE I AM LOOK LACKING IN MY FAITH OR VICE VERSA. OR MAYBE YOUR NEIGHBOR NEXT TO YOU IS GETTING MORE, AND SO FORTH. YOU KNOW, I USED TO MISS SUNDAY MASSES, NOT AS A PRIEST. BUT IN MY HIGH SCHOOL TIME PERIOD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REASON WAS. PROBABLY LAZINESS OR WHATEVER IT WAS, I DON'T REMEMBER ANYMORE. BUT SOMEHOW MY LATE FATHER FOUND OUT. HE FOUND OUT AND HE REMINDED ME, YOU NEED TO GO TO MASS. AND THEN, HE ALWAYS TELL ME, YOU NEED TO GO TO CONFESSION BEFORE YOU GO TO MASS. BEFORE YOU RECEIVE BECAUSE IF YOU MISS SUNDAY MASS, IT'S A GRAVE SIN. AND WHEN YOU KNOW IT'S A GRAVE SIN, IT'S A MORTAL SIN. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY REASON, GOOD EXCUSE FOR MISSING MASS, YOU NEED TO GO TO CONFESSION. AND HE WOULD TELL ME THIS. AND YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT THEN BUT NOW I DO. YOU KNOW, HE HAD GREAT LOVE FOR ME! HE REALLY CARED FOR MY SALVATION BECAUSE I COULD BE RECEIVING OUR LORD AND BRING ABOUT JUDGMENT ON MYSELF. I COULD BRING THE SIN AGAINST MYSELF, ALSO IN ADDITION, BECAUSE OF MY UNWORTHY COMMUNION, MY SACRILEGIOUS COMMUNION. YOU KNOW WHAT? UNFORTUNATELY, THIS PASSAGE IS NOT IN THE LECTIONARY CYCLE. IT'S NOT, MAYBE ANYBODY HERE OR FATHER JOSEPH OR ANYBODY LISTENING, PROVE ME WRONG, DO TELL ME WHERE. BUT I AND ANOTHER PRIEST IN OUR DIOCESE HAVE LOOKED FOR THIS. AND WE DID NOT FIND IT AT ALL. IT'S NOT IN YEAR A, YEAR B, YEAR C, YEAR 1, YEAR 2. THE PASSAGE THAT ST. PAUL TALKS ABOUT OF THE NEED TO RECEIVE HOLY EUCHARIST WORTHILY. 1 CORINTHIANS 11:27-34, IT'S ABOUT TAKING THE EUCHARIST UNWORTHILY. NONE IN THE LECTIONARY. MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CHURCH NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT. ST. PAUL SAYS, WHOEVER THEREFORE EATS THE BREAD OR DRINKS THIS CUP OF THE LORD IN AN UNWORTHY MANNER WILL BE GUILTY OF PROFANING THE BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD. LET A MAN EXAMINE HIMSELF. SO, EAT OF THE BREAD AND DRINK OF THE CUP. FOR ANYONE WHO EATS AND DRINKS WITHOUT DISCERNING THE BODY EATS AND DRINKS JUDGMENT UPON HIMSELF. THAT IS WHY MANY OF YOU ARE WEAK, ILL, AND SOME HAVE DIED. ST. PAUL SAID THAT. LOOK IT UP 1 CORINTHIANS 11, DEATH AND LIFE. IT'S ALWAYS IN BATTLE. IT'S ALWAYS IN OPPOSITION TO ONE ANOTHER. OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST DESTROYED DEATH AND BROUGHT LIFE TO LIGHT THROUGH THE GOSPEL. FAITH IS GIVEN TO US, AND FAITH IS REQUIRED OF US. FAITH CANNOT BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED BUT MUST BE EXERCISED AND MUST BE LIVED. FAITH WOULD BE DEAD WHEN THERE'S NO GOOD WORK AND NEVER BEEN EXERCISED AND LIVED ACCORDING. RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION WORTHILY WITH GREAT FAITH IS LIKE THE WOMAN TOUCHING THE CLOTHES OF OUR LORD WITH HER GREAT FAITH. WE DON'T TOUCH HIS CLOTHES BUT WE TOUCH HIM AND WE UNITE WITH HIM LITERALLY WITH HIS BODY AND BLOOD, SO THAT WE MAY HAVE LIFE, LIFE ETERNAL AND NOT DEATH. I'M ALWAYS REMINDED BY OUR LORD'S WORDS TO SAINT FAUSTINA, HE COMPLAINED TO HER ABOUT THOSE RECEIVING HIM WITHOUT ANY ATTENTION OR WITHOUT FAITH. AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAID. "I DESIRE TO UNITE MYSELF WITH HUMAN SOULS, MY GREAT DELIGHT IS TO UNITE MYSELF WITH SOULS. KNOW THAT WHEN I COME TO A HUMAN HEART IN HOLY COMMUNION, MY HANDS ARE FULL OF ALL KINDS OF GRACES WHICH I WANT TO GIVE TO THE SOUL. BUT SOULS DO NOT EVEN PAY ANY ATTENTION TO ME. THEY LEAVE ME TO MYSELF AND BUSY THEMSELVES WITH OTHER THINGS. OH, HOW SAD I AM THAT SOULS DO NOT RECOGNIZE LOVE! THEY TREAT ME AS A DEAD OBJECT." SO, THIS IS WHY THE CHURCH ALWAYS, WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE, PREPARE YOURSELF BEFORE MASS. YOU NEED TO GO TO CONFESSION, GO TO CONFESSION. COME EARLY. PREPARE YOURSELF. MAKE AN INTENTION. EVERY PRIEST HAS AN INTENTION FOR EVERY MASS HE OFFERS. AND YOU MAKE AN INTENTION FOR YOURSELF. YOU SAY, LORD, IT IS MY INTENTION TO RECEIVE YOU SO THAT MY SINS WILL DECREASE AND MY VIRTUES WILL GROW, SO THAT I CAN GET RID OF MY LACK OF OBEDIENCE AND GROW IN OBEDIENCE. THAT I COULD GET RID OF THE STRUGGLE WITH LUST, BE PURE, GET RID OF MY ARROGANCE AND I CAN BE HUMBLE, AND SO ON. SO, MAKE PARTICULAR INTENTIONS. LIKE THE LORD SAYS, I HAVE ALL KINDS OF GRACES THAT I WANT TO GIVE TO SOULS. SO, HE WANTS US TO HAVE CONFIDENCE AND FAITH IN HIM. SO, MAY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, REALLY AND TRULY PRESENT IN THE EUCHARIST, WHO HEALED THE WOMAN WITH HEMORRHAGES AND RAISED THE LITTLE GIRL, MAY HE PRESERVE US FROM ETERNAL DEATH AND KEEP US SAFE FOR ETERNAL LIFE.
