What does it mean for you right now to be bread for others as Jesus was?
by Mary Sellars MalloyFirst of all, if you are now able to worship with your parish community, isn’t it wonderful to be able to once again be a part of the procession to the Table of the Lord and receive the Body and Blood of Christ? What a Lent and Easter fast we’ve had from this most precious gift of Jesus! This solemnity is most certainly a day to express our gratitude to him for the lifegiving gifts of his Body and his Blood.
Even though we have come through or are still coming through a long fast from the Eucharist, this is also a day to reflect on the many ways we have been fed by the bread of others’ generosity, thoughtfulness, prayers, and support during the pandemic. I think of three friends who sewed hundreds of masks for healthcare workers, chemotherapy patients, and clinic staff members. And there’s the crafty friend who made joyful Easter bunnies, delivering them to friends’ doorsteps to bring Easter cheer.
A new friend in Arkansas wrote that in her neighborhood, which is mostly Catholic, neighbors agreed on a time to stand in their driveways and pray the rosary for the protection of the world. In a southern community, members of a Baptist church stood on their front porches on Easter Sunday and sang “Amazing Grace.” That same morning, we opened our door to find a container of dark chocolate-covered pretzels on our doormat.
Things may still seem unsettled, frightening, or discouraging, but all around us are hopeful and uplifting examples of generosity and goodness. On this solemnity, let’s pause and ask Jesus how he is asking us to continue to “be bread”—be encouragement, be light, be of service, and be the presence of Christ to others.
Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours. Saint Teresa of Jesus (of Ávila)
Mary Sellars Malloy has over forty years’ experience as a Catholic educator and lay minister. She is a frequent workshop presenter on the topics of prayer, liturgy, spirituality, the Sacraments, and the RCIA. In addition, Mary leads retreats and parish missions throughout the country. Her goal is to encourage Catholics of all ages to appreciate and to live their Catholic faith.
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Helping Kids Live Their Faith
This book offers numerous ideas and opportunities to help children understand the importance of carrying out the Church's mission of serving their families, the community, and parish.
This small book provides practical application through service projects to model ways to live and act in faith.
- It provides service project ideas that make a difference in the faith life of the student helping them learn to put their faith into action.
- The book provides principals, DRE's, teachers, catechists, ideas for service projects so that they may provide opportunities for children to both learn about and live their faith.
- It encourages the adult to serve as a model of faith helping the children understand what it looks like to live a life of faith.