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Homiletics (Long Form - Option 2)

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Homiletics (Long Form - Option 2) Together in Mission Launch Date: June 6, 2021 Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Homiletic Points to Consider While not an absolute statement, the readings for this celebration do not lend themselves readily to the intent of the Together in Mission. However, the Solemnity itself is a proper font for the homily. In the past year and beyond, we saw firsthand how important the Eucharist is to the life of the Church. While a few of our parishioners may have welcomed the dispensation of the Sunday obligation to attend Mass, many certainly felt deprived of so great a gift, even to the point of expressing disappointment and dismay. At the same time, some parishes found opportunities to create experiences that called our faithful to the invitation to be Christlike in other ways beyond receiving the Eucharist (by which we also ought to be what we eat): • Parking lots became food distributions sites and parishioners got involved. • Parishioners went out to distribute help to the homeless. • Young people’s talents were tapped to put on livestream Masses. • When the vaccines became available, many helped secure appointments for the elderly and those with no online access. • Teachers found new ways of conducting class from home, along with looking after their own little ones! • Our homes became churches and schools, hopefully strengthening the idea that faith is lived and celebrated everywhere, not just in certain places. • We learned to sacrifice a little so that others may live. • Others? As good as all that has been during a seemingly debilitating pandemic, we also discovered that not everyone can respond in like manner. • Several parishes had no capacity to livestream Masses. • Some communities are made up of many who continued to have to leave home for essential tasks that needed to be carried out, many living in multi-generation homes that facilitate viral infection. • A few parishes have older communities that rely on parishioners who were at higher risk. • That Covid 19 disproportionately affected certain groups was not lost among our parishes and
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Page 1: Homiletics (Long Form - Option 2)

Homiletics (Long Form - Option 2)

Together in MissionLaunch Date: June 6, 2021Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Homiletic Points to Consider

While not an absolute statement, the readings for this celebration do not lend themselves readily to the intent of the Together in Mission. However, the Solemnity itself is a proper font for the homily.

In the past year and beyond, we saw firsthand how important the Eucharist is to the life of the Church. While a few of our parishioners may have welcomed the dispensation of the Sunday obligation to attend Mass, many certainly felt deprived of so great a gift, even to the point of expressing disappointment and dismay. At the same time, some parishes found opportunities to create experiences that called our faithful to the invitation to be Christlike in other ways beyond receiving the Eucharist (by which we also ought to be what we eat):

• Parking lots became food distributions sites and parishioners got involved.• Parishioners went out to distribute help to the homeless.• Young people’s talents were tapped to put on livestream Masses.• When the vaccines became available, many helped secure appointments for the elderly and those with no online access.• Teachers found new ways of conducting class from home, along with looking after their own little ones!• Our homes became churches and schools, hopefully strengthening the idea that faith is lived and celebrated everywhere, not just in certain places.• We learned to sacrifice a little so that others may live.• Others?

As good as all that has been during a seemingly debilitating pandemic, we also discovered that not everyone can respond in like manner.

• Several parishes had no capacity to livestream Masses.• Some communities are made up of many who continued to have to leave home for essential tasks that needed to be carried out, many living in multi-generation homes that facilitate viral infection.• A few parishes have older communities that rely on parishioners who were at higher risk.• That Covid 19 disproportionately a�ected certain groups was not lost among our parishes and

schools that serve these groups.• Others?

When we could have in-person Masses again, even if outdoors, people came back, some teary eyed, grateful that we can receive the Eucharist again. Unfortunately, as great a gift we have been given, still not everyone is able to celebrate it, not even virtually in some cases. Many parishes still rely on other sources to make livestream Masses available. Some of our older parishes need to have church and school building ventilation systems upgraded to allow safe indoor gatherings.

One of the early slogans that surfaced to encourage everyone’s participation to overcome the pandemic was, “We’re all in this together.” However, as many people bit the bullet, stayed home, and relied on delivery, many others continued to leave home, took risks, and made these deliveries. In his letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul writes that the Church is the Body of Christ, each member constituting an important and indispensable part. Today, as the Body of Christ gathered to cele-brate the Body and Blood of Christ, our annual Together in Mission e�ort calls us to appreciate just that: that we are together in the mission of Christ. We cannot a�ord to desire and secure for ourselves that which we do not desire and secure for others. Called to go Forward in Faith, we can only do so if every member goes forward, especially those who find themselves stuck due to lack of opportunities to grow in knowledge and love of God, to grow in relationship with others in the community, and to grow in engagement of the world and its resources.

As we give thanks – Eucharist – for the gift of being able to celebrate and receive the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, let us not forget those who, lacking the necessities in human life can only aspire to this necessity of the divine life.

The first verse to the Responsorial Psalm (if not replaced by music ministry) asks, “How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?” The response follows: “The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the Lord.” Lest we limit ourselves to some liturgical action of raising the Precious Blood of the Lord, might we consider raising up the lowly among us and on their behalf call upon the name of the Lord?

Page 2: Homiletics (Long Form - Option 2)

Homiletics (Long Form - Option 2)

Together in MissionLaunch Date: June 6, 2021Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Homiletic Points to Consider

While not an absolute statement, the readings for this celebration do not lend themselves readily to the intent of the Together in Mission. However, the Solemnity itself is a proper font for the homily.

In the past year and beyond, we saw firsthand how important the Eucharist is to the life of the Church. While a few of our parishioners may have welcomed the dispensation of the Sunday obligation to attend Mass, many certainly felt deprived of so great a gift, even to the point of expressing disappointment and dismay. At the same time, some parishes found opportunities to create experiences that called our faithful to the invitation to be Christlike in other ways beyond receiving the Eucharist (by which we also ought to be what we eat):

• Parking lots became food distributions sites and parishioners got involved.• Parishioners went out to distribute help to the homeless.• Young people’s talents were tapped to put on livestream Masses.• When the vaccines became available, many helped secure appointments for the elderly and those with no online access.• Teachers found new ways of conducting class from home, along with looking after their own little ones!• Our homes became churches and schools, hopefully strengthening the idea that faith is lived and celebrated everywhere, not just in certain places.• We learned to sacrifice a little so that others may live.• Others?

As good as all that has been during a seemingly debilitating pandemic, we also discovered that not everyone can respond in like manner.

• Several parishes had no capacity to livestream Masses.• Some communities are made up of many who continued to have to leave home for essential tasks that needed to be carried out, many living in multi-generation homes that facilitate viral infection.• A few parishes have older communities that rely on parishioners who were at higher risk.• That Covid 19 disproportionately a�ected certain groups was not lost among our parishes and

schools that serve these groups.• Others?

When we could have in-person Masses again, even if outdoors, people came back, some teary eyed, grateful that we can receive the Eucharist again. Unfortunately, as great a gift we have been given, still not everyone is able to celebrate it, not even virtually in some cases. Many parishes still rely on other sources to make livestream Masses available. Some of our older parishes need to have church and school building ventilation systems upgraded to allow safe indoor gatherings.

One of the early slogans that surfaced to encourage everyone’s participation to overcome the pandemic was, “We’re all in this together.” However, as many people bit the bullet, stayed home, and relied on delivery, many others continued to leave home, took risks, and made these deliveries. In his letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul writes that the Church is the Body of Christ, each member constituting an important and indispensable part. Today, as the Body of Christ gathered to cele-brate the Body and Blood of Christ, our annual Together in Mission e�ort calls us to appreciate just that: that we are together in the mission of Christ. We cannot a�ord to desire and secure for ourselves that which we do not desire and secure for others. Called to go Forward in Faith, we can only do so if every member goes forward, especially those who find themselves stuck due to lack of opportunities to grow in knowledge and love of God, to grow in relationship with others in the community, and to grow in engagement of the world and its resources.

As we give thanks – Eucharist – for the gift of being able to celebrate and receive the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, let us not forget those who, lacking the necessities in human life can only aspire to this necessity of the divine life.

The first verse to the Responsorial Psalm (if not replaced by music ministry) asks, “How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?” The response follows: “The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the Lord.” Lest we limit ourselves to some liturgical action of raising the Precious Blood of the Lord, might we consider raising up the lowly among us and on their behalf call upon the name of the Lord?


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