Gospel for June 22 2025 – Luke 9: 11b-17
Gospel Reflections for June 22 2025
You have a lot going on!
Today we celebrate the event when we receive the person of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
This is the most important time of the Mass and so should be taken quite seriously.
However, you may arrive at Mass often filled with many emotions and pre-occupied with thoughts of your family, your work, or other important issues. All are perfectly understandable to Our Lord. He knows you have a lot going on!
It is in precisely those areas of your deep concern that Our Lord would like to help, and offers Himself to you for that purpose of providing the grace you need …right now.
The words of consecration say that clearly, “I give myself to you completely, my body and blood, my entire self …and all for your lasting happiness.”
Our Lord does not consider your thoughts about your life as distractions, but rather as the important things that you have to deal with, and it is in precisely those areas that Our Lord most wants to help with His grace. If they are important to you …then they are important to Him as well!
The moment of communion conveys that message well. He places Himself directly in your hands. He places Himself directly into your life and just as you need most at that moment.
Our first reaction must be humble gratitude. That is why we bow just before receiving. Some even kneel. After receiving, you should go back to your seat and immediately kneel or sit and talk privately with Our Lord who is now inside you.
You are free to kneel or sit in contemplation of His presence within you right away. This is the time to hear what Our Lord has to personally say to you precisely about all those issues that you walked into Church with at the beginning of Mass!
Our faith is not nostalgia, or merely looking back 2000 years to the time of Our Lord in Jerusalem, but rather to His very active presence now, and in your life today. Our Lord means to help you right now, in all the important areas of your life that concern you.
Your answers will come from His example and then offering your own life for the good of others as well, just as He does in the words of the consecration.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
I remember my very first reception of Holy Communion and the thrill of receiving the Body and Blood of my Savior Jesus Christ.. I still am thrilled and awed by receiving it while a lot older.
Joined with my Brothers and Sisters at Mass, Listening intently to Scripture and items of My Catholic Faith still fill me with good ways to direct my thoughts and actions. We are truly Blessed to have the opportunity to receive this Wonderful Sacrament of Holy Eucharist.
This Sunday we Celebrate this Awesome Miracle of Redemption and Grace.
You Priests make this possible and I am so thankful for your Splendid Vocation to bring it to Fruition.
Thank you Tom. And we priests are grateful for parishioners like you!
Tis hit home … thanks for your thoughts.
I love your words of reassurance. You always give the right words to convey the love of Jesus.
Blessings,
Betsy Eschrich
St. Paschal
I am so glad you find my articles helpful!
You are welome!
Hi Father Dave,
I prefer knelling after communion, although I stand and wait till everyone receives Jesus and then sit.
I can’t remember when / why we started standing.
More importantly, thank you for reminding me that if I care about something so does God.
Yes, kneeling in adoration or sitting in contemplation are the two best gestures as you need.
So loveeeeeeeeeeeeee receiving the precious Body and precious Blood of our loving Jesus for His loveeeeeeeeeee lives in me and everyone and then we live His loveeeeeeeeeeeee in our world and transform it into Jesus’ LOVE!!! Love it and love you@!! Loveeeeeeee, franca and Dick
Thank you!