Come and Eat.

I will be very honest and tell you that I often feel a sadness at this time of year when one Sacramental Programme for First Holy Communion has come to an end and we are awaiting the next one to begin in October.

Families on the programme make a commitment to attending a good number of Saturday sessions and also to coming to mass each week, on Saturday evening or Sunday morning.  The children and also the parents always have a very positive experience on the programme and the mass at which children make their First Holy Communion is extremely beautiful and uplifting.

I am always moved by the faith of parents that drives them to such commitment to enabling their children to make First Holy Communion.  This in itself points to a recognition of the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Sacrament.  Parents know how important this is.  And yet, when the programme is over, many families then attend mass only a little or not at all.

I say all this only with a disappointment and not with any kind of judgement.  The call of our faith through baptism is to “keep holy the Sabbath.”  It is the requirement of all Catholics to attend mass each week.  It is the way that we are fed and the readings at mass this week remind us of this.

Isaiah speaks on behalf of God and says, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!”  This is surely an indication of God’s free and gracious giving to humankind.

In the Gospel reading we hear again about the feeding of the five thousand.  Matthew tell us that Jesus, “…had compassion of them and healed their sick,” and of course that he went on to multiply the loaves and fish so that all had enough to eat.

It is good for us to give thanks again to the God who provides for our deepest needs, physical and spiritual and to be encouraged to remain as believers, church-goers and servants of the Lord.  The Church is the place where we are truly fed.  

God bless, Fr Kevin.