Here we are on the Feast Day of Blessed Sacrament Church. Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Body and Blood of Christ. Years ago, we referred to this day as the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. However, no matter, what we call this day, it is a day of profound wonder, grace and blessings. How lucky we are, in being known as the Parish of the Blessed Sacrament. It is Jesus’ Body and Blood where the core of our faith (the faith of the entire Roman Catholic Church) is found. What other church has this profound, yet sublime, truth at its center? In the Roman Catholic faith we believe, and hold as true, that when the priest consecrates the bread and wine, it becomes the actual Body and Blood of Jesus. The Blessed Sacrament is not a symbol of Jesus, it does not represent Jesus, and it is not a memory of Jesus. For the Roman Catholic Church, the Blessed Sacrament is Jesus: the actual body, soul and divinity. Nothing less would suffice. Anything less would make a mockery of Jesus’ own words at the Last Supper. When Jesus speaks, His words have a real meaning and effect.

Why would anyone want to skip Mass? Personally, I find this the most frustrating and mind boggling. The Mass is the summit and source of all the Sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. It is the foundation on which the Church is built. Just to be in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament (in the Tabernacle) is a blessing and the person who comes to adore the Blessed Sacrament receives many graces. Yet, we live in a time of personal and moral relativism. Our own needs, and wants, are more important than what Jesus, and His Church, teach, believe and practice. If I was to say to a someone: “Do you want to meet Jesus himself? The real Jesus, in the flesh?” You know they would say, “of course”. I would bring them into the Church, in front of the Blessed Sacrament, and say: “There He is. There is Jesus, the one who can do all for you. Jesus, who can answer your hopes and desires. He is the one who will lift you up and carry you when necessary. There He is, the one who forgives you, who strengthens you and who loves you. There He is, the one who died for you so that you may be saved and be with Him in Heaven.”

This is the Jesus you encounter at Mass. Why would someone choose not be there?