Page 120 - spiritual_accompaniment_montreal_archdiocese

HOMILIES

From the point of view of our faith in Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ never ceases to come to us, to
nourish us by his word and by his body. “This is my body, which will be given up for you. This
is my blood which will be poured out for you.” Jesus never stops to nourish us.

Although the church doors are closed, the Church is not closed! The doors are closed but the
Church is not closed! The church is closed in solidarity with those in danger, with the whole
world, considering the danger of contagion. But life continues.

How will we love one another while physically distancing as we are? Well, we need to find new
ways to love because we are always called upon to love. Our vocation to love does not end
because we are on pause. The vocation to love continues.

How do we pray? This is a major question for a Christian, for a Catholic. How do we pray now,
having the habit of going to church to pray?

We know that we can pray with our family and we could do it more often. We know that we can
also read the Word of God and we could do it more often. Even while we do what the special
circumstances invite us to do, what do we make of our relationship with the Eucharist?

In a paradoxical way, right now, while we are not fasting in preparation for the Eucharist but
fasting from receiving Eucharist, we can ask the Holy Spirit for grace to enflame our hearts.
The flame of desire to receive the Eucharist.

We can ask the Holy Spirit to let grow in the hearts of all the baptized, all priests, the whole
people of God, all of us together, to let grow in them our faith in the Eucharist and our desire
to receive the Eucharist.

Perhaps this is the occasion to review our lives. When we can go to Mass, we can take it for
granted that the church doors will be open on Sundays or weekdays. When we take for it for
granted, how can we become aware of it?

Perhaps by reviewing our lives? Perhaps by becoming aware of our thirst for the Eucharist?

Perhaps we should ask for the grace that our thirst for the Eucharist be revived, because one
takes for granted what is accessible every day. But now, this has stopped and the familiar is no
longer there. How do we ask for the grace not to take God’s gift for granted, not to take the
Eucharist for granted?

(cont’d)

Collection of texts by the Most Rev. Christian Lépine 120