Jesus said to his disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” While Jesus had in mind all Ten Commandments, perhaps it is the word, “if” that captures most of my heart and attention.
Jesus’ word, like the Holy Spirit, sinks deep and leads me to wonder: Do I love Jesus? Do I trust Jesus with all my heart, soul, mind and strength? While each of the commandments has a view to putting ourselves in a proper relationship with God and our neighbor, it is the first three commandments that assist me and our parish family in examining our relationship with God. Consider the Third Commandment:
“Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.”
In speaking with parents and grandparents in the Catholic Church and in all denominations about “keeping holy the Sabbath day,” sadly, often the answers are, “I am busy on Sunday. I have things to do. We have sports to play. My parents are busy, too.” Are you surprised by what I am hearing?
While these answers are all given to me in a matter-of-fact way, in a seeming absence of knowledge of the above Commandment of God, it is Jesus’ statement, “If” that most pierces my heart. Again, do I love Jesus? Do I trust Jesus?
In the Acts of the Apostles, God worked miracles through Philip, Peter, Paul and John to overcome the indifference and to catch people’s attention. So also, in our own day, miracles are happening. Are you aware of a recent eucharistic occurrence that is presently under investigation as a miracle and happened in Thomaston, Connecticut, through the intercession of a simple parish priest named Blessed Father Michael McGivney? Blessed Father McGivney is the founder of the Knights of Columbus. Ironically, the miracle occurred in St. Thomas church, the last parish that Blessed Father McGivney served. Apparently, on Sunday, March 5, 2023, there was a multiplication of loaves. The extraordinary minister of holy Communion was running low on hosts and was looking to other Communion ministers for more, when to her surprise, the ciborium was filled with more consecrated hosts.
What really caught my attention was knowing that members of our local Knights of Columbus council had been praying through the heavenly intercession of Blessed Michael McGivney, asking that the “Core Principle of ‘Eucharist’” would be established as a Fifth Core Principle of the Knights of Columbus Order. When Father Joseph Crowley of St. Thomas parish asked if anyone had prayed for such a miracle, we had.
Why does God work miracles in times past or in present times? Perhaps it is to deal with the question of “if.” There is no “if” about God’s love for us. Jesus demonstrates he loves us in abundance; there is no scarcity in his love. As Jesus promises in the Gospel, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” “… On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.”
When we realize the truth of what Jesus is saying, the Eucharist will become the living heart of our lives.
God answers prayers. Perhaps, this is God’s way of renewing not only the Knights of Columbus, but the whole Church through the Eucharist. Presently, the Knights have named charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism to be our core principles. Is Jesus Christ, through this recent eucharistic action, expressing his desire to have the Eucharist be named a fifth core principle, which would be the “cornerstone” principle? Indeed, our very life is built upon Christ, and having the Eucharist as a principle reflects this truth.
I believe God wants to renew his Church through the Eucharist. A new Pentecost is just beginning in your local parish. There, the miracle of the Mass is being celebrated every Sunday, even daily. So, “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day,” showing God our love and answering our “if.”
God’s love is multiplying, no ifs, ands or buts about it!
Father Perkl is pastor of Mary, Mother of the Church, in Burnsville. He can be reached at jperkl@mmotc.org.
Sunday, May 14
Sixth Sunday of Easter
