HOMILY
Diocesan Teachers Institute – September 16, 2024
Feast of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian – I Corinthians 11:17-26, 33; Luke 7:1-10
Every year when I prepare to visit our schools to celebrate Mass with all of you and our students, I focus on a theme that I want to share. Last year, I spoke about the vocations to which we are called as Christians, particularly vocations to the priesthood and religious life. The year before, I reflected upon the importance of service. And this year, I planned to focus upon the gift of the Holy Eucharist in our lives as Christians – a particularly timely focus given the Eucharistic Revival that Catholics continue to experience throughout our land.
As such, it wasn’t my intention to reflect upon the Eucharist during this homily – until I read the scripture passages assigned for today’s Mass for Monday of the 24th Week of the Church Year. Providentially, our first reading from Saint Paul’s letter to the Corinthians contains the earliest references to the Eucharist, penned a mere twenty years following the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Saint Paul paints a startling picture of the Corinthian community and its failure to understand the consequences of an encounter with Christ in the Eucharist. Many were unable to look beyond their own needs to those of the body of Christ in his Church. There was conflict among its members – just as we experience it today. Some in the Corinthian church felt that they were superior to others and failed to share from their bounty with those who were less fortunate. As a result, some went hungry in the midst of gathering to celebrate the Eucharist.
In response to their behavior, St. Paul challenges the Corinthians: “You who share the same bread and cup receive the same Christ in the Eucharist – and as such, you become one with each other and with the Lord whom you receive.” … Essentially, Paul reminds us that we become one with our husband, our wife, our children. But we also become one with the neighbor we find intolerable; one with the person of color or ethnic background or lifestyle that we’d rather not accept; one with the poor – and one with every child entrusted to our care each day.
This unity of which Saint Paul speaks points to a dimension of the Eucharist that we can often overlook. Yes, Eucharist is an incredible gift – the very power, presence and life of God given to us in the form of bread and wine. But the Eucharist, for all the devotion and praise that it elicits in our lives carries with it a responsibility.
Remember the words of Jesus just repeated by Paul, when he took bread and wine and proclaimed to his disciples to “do this in memory of me.” What is it that Jesus asks us to do in his memory? Repeat a ritual? Yes, of course. But he also invites us to become like him in giving of himself for those he loved. The great Saint Augustine puts it best: The great Saint Augustine put it best: “Become the mystery you celebrate.” … Become the broken Christ whose life was poured forth for those that he loved. … Become the loving, compassionate Christ who fed the hungry multitudes, and satisfied not only their physical needs but their desire to be nourished by God.
Another great saint, Saint John Chrysostom, put all of this in perspective when he spoke of the bond between reverence for the sacramental presence of Christ and our relationship with one another: “Would you honor Christ’s body? Then do not permit him to be despised in his members, that is, in the poor who are in need of clothes. Do not honor him here in church clothed in silk, while outside, you neglect him when he is cold and has no clothes. … What advantage is it to Christ if the altar is covered with gold vessels while he himself is starving in his poor? First, feed those who are hungry and only then, adorn the altar with what remains.”
Through the Eucharist, we are reminded that for all that it demands of us, at its core is the life and example of Jesus, who selflessly gave his life for us on the cross in service and love. As such, our mission – as educators – as administrators – as clergy – as Christians – must be centered less upon our own needs and plans and far more upon the lives that God entrusts to us in the work that we’ve been given to do. And for you, as Catholic educators, that responsibility extends to the well-being of every student who walks across the threshold of one of our schools.
Listen to the Mission Statement for our diocesan school system that clearly reminds us of that preeminent responsibility: We, the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Scranton, are committed to educating students and their families in the Catholic faith. We provide a Catholic education that is spiritually sound and academically excellent. We strive to prepare our students to be faith-filled leaders and life-long leaders dedicated to serving the church and society.
Yes, our primary focus is the children who come to us seeking to learn. But they come with families who are also recipients of what we share. And what we share is not simply an educational experience that is academically excellent, but one that is rooted in the teachings of our faith and in the Eucharist itself. It’s the faith that serves as the foundation for all that we teach – rooted in servant leadership – that we both are called to model and instill in the lives given to our care – that sets us apart and gives us our unique Catholic identity.
Many of the children and families who come into our lives are poor. Some are materially poor. Far more are spiritually and emotionally poor. Yes, they come seeking an education. But they also come looking for meaning and purpose in their lives. Parents come with hopes for their children. And children come trusting in you to love and respect them and to give them a way forward in life.
As you reflect upon the vision and mission of our Catholic school system, I hope you can begin to see the unique role that you have and continue to play in the lives of our students, their families, our parishes and our communities.
In short, sisters and brothers, more than you realize, you have a treasure to share with our children. Oh, I’m not so naïve as to think that there aren’t days that try your patience. I have them too. So did Saint Paul, the saints we honor this day – Cornelius and Cyprian – and every soul who has journeyed through this world seeking to live the Eucharist and Jesus’ gospel of life with integrity. Nonetheless, through the mercy of God, we have been given the power to bring goodness and life into our corner of the world more than any of us might imagine.
Thank you for your willingness to embrace this unique moment in our Diocesan School System’s history and for your dedication in serving the lives God has given to your care. May God’s grace enable you to be used as his instruments of peace. May you have the wisdom to turn to God for help in fulfilling the midst of the mission that you’ve embraced. May you find your strength in the Eucharist. And may you be a hope-filled presence for every young person whose life encounters yours.
God bless you and thank you!
Feast of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian – I Corinthians 11:17-26, 33; Luke 7:1-10
Every year when I prepare to visit our schools to celebrate Mass with all of you and our students, I focus on a theme that I want to share. Last year, I spoke about the vocations to which we are called as Christians, particularly vocations to the priesthood and religious life. The year before, I reflected upon the importance of service. And this year, I planned to focus upon the gift of the Holy Eucharist in our lives as Christians – a particularly timely focus given the Eucharistic Revival that Catholics continue to experience throughout our land.
As such, it wasn’t my intention to reflect upon the Eucharist during this homily – until I read the scripture passages assigned for today’s Mass for Monday of the 24th Week of the Church Year. Providentially, our first reading from Saint Paul’s letter to the Corinthians contains the earliest references to the Eucharist, penned a mere twenty years following the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Saint Paul paints a startling picture of the Corinthian community and its failure to understand the consequences of an encounter with Christ in the Eucharist. Many were unable to look beyond their own needs to those of the body of Christ in his Church. There was conflict among its members – just as we experience it today. Some in the Corinthian church felt that they were superior to others and failed to share from their bounty with those who were less fortunate. As a result, some went hungry in the midst of gathering to celebrate the Eucharist.
In response to their behavior, St. Paul challenges the Corinthians: “You who share the same bread and cup receive the same Christ in the Eucharist – and as such, you become one with each other and with the Lord whom you receive.” … Essentially, Paul reminds us that we become one with our husband, our wife, our children. But we also become one with the neighbor we find intolerable; one with the person of color or ethnic background or lifestyle that we’d rather not accept; one with the poor – and one with every child entrusted to our care each day.
This unity of which Saint Paul speaks points to a dimension of the Eucharist that we can often overlook. Yes, Eucharist is an incredible gift – the very power, presence and life of God given to us in the form of bread and wine. But the Eucharist, for all the devotion and praise that it elicits in our lives carries with it a responsibility.
Remember the words of Jesus just repeated by Paul, when he took bread and wine and proclaimed to his disciples to “do this in memory of me.” What is it that Jesus asks us to do in his memory? Repeat a ritual? Yes, of course. But he also invites us to become like him in giving of himself for those he loved. The great Saint Augustine puts it best: The great Saint Augustine put it best: “Become the mystery you celebrate.” … Become the broken Christ whose life was poured forth for those that he loved. … Become the loving, compassionate Christ who fed the hungry multitudes, and satisfied not only their physical needs but their desire to be nourished by God.
Another great saint, Saint John Chrysostom, put all of this in perspective when he spoke of the bond between reverence for the sacramental presence of Christ and our relationship with one another: “Would you honor Christ’s body? Then do not permit him to be despised in his members, that is, in the poor who are in need of clothes. Do not honor him here in church clothed in silk, while outside, you neglect him when he is cold and has no clothes. … What advantage is it to Christ if the altar is covered with gold vessels while he himself is starving in his poor? First, feed those who are hungry and only then, adorn the altar with what remains.”
Through the Eucharist, we are reminded that for all that it demands of us, at its core is the life and example of Jesus, who selflessly gave his life for us on the cross in service and love. As such, our mission – as educators – as administrators – as clergy – as Christians – must be centered less upon our own needs and plans and far more upon the lives that God entrusts to us in the work that we’ve been given to do. And for you, as Catholic educators, that responsibility extends to the well-being of every student who walks across the threshold of one of our schools.
Listen to the Mission Statement for our diocesan school system that clearly reminds us of that preeminent responsibility: We, the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Scranton, are committed to educating students and their families in the Catholic faith. We provide a Catholic education that is spiritually sound and academically excellent. We strive to prepare our students to be faith-filled leaders and life-long leaders dedicated to serving the church and society.
Yes, our primary focus is the children who come to us seeking to learn. But they come with families who are also recipients of what we share. And what we share is not simply an educational experience that is academically excellent, but one that is rooted in the teachings of our faith and in the Eucharist itself. It’s the faith that serves as the foundation for all that we teach – rooted in servant leadership – that we both are called to model and instill in the lives given to our care – that sets us apart and gives us our unique Catholic identity.
Many of the children and families who come into our lives are poor. Some are materially poor. Far more are spiritually and emotionally poor. Yes, they come seeking an education. But they also come looking for meaning and purpose in their lives. Parents come with hopes for their children. And children come trusting in you to love and respect them and to give them a way forward in life.
As you reflect upon the vision and mission of our Catholic school system, I hope you can begin to see the unique role that you have and continue to play in the lives of our students, their families, our parishes and our communities.
In short, sisters and brothers, more than you realize, you have a treasure to share with our children. Oh, I’m not so naïve as to think that there aren’t days that try your patience. I have them too. So did Saint Paul, the saints we honor this day – Cornelius and Cyprian – and every soul who has journeyed through this world seeking to live the Eucharist and Jesus’ gospel of life with integrity. Nonetheless, through the mercy of God, we have been given the power to bring goodness and life into our corner of the world more than any of us might imagine.
Thank you for your willingness to embrace this unique moment in our Diocesan School System’s history and for your dedication in serving the lives God has given to your care. May God’s grace enable you to be used as his instruments of peace. May you have the wisdom to turn to God for help in fulfilling the midst of the mission that you’ve embraced. May you find your strength in the Eucharist. And may you be a hope-filled presence for every young person whose life encounters yours.
God bless you and thank you!