Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • December 9, 2022 7 228-539-9800 www.RiemannFamily.com Gulfport Pass Christian West Jackson County Biloxi Long Beach Hancock County Thank you, St. Jude and Blessed Mother, for prayers answered. LLT Thanks to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Jude, for prayers answered. LD Mother’s bread One of my favorite theologians tells the truth about the Eucharist in a very personal way. He talks about his family and that everyone eagerly comes to his family home, where only his old mother lives, for various meetings and celebrations. They travel from distant places where they live to come together and spend some time together as a family. Before such a meeting, the mother prepares a lot of dough for bread, dusts the old bread oven, ignites the fire, places the loaves prepared with her own hands, and when they are baked, she takes them out and puts them away for the visit of her children and their families. She puts a lot of effort into her work but does it every year with incredible difficulty. She used to bake bread every week, but now everyone gets it from a bakery or a supermarket. The question is, why does an old woman go to the trouble of baking a dozen loaves of bread? After all, she can buy it in many places in the area and even order it with home delivery. The answer is simple: because her children are waiting for this bread. More precisely, they are wait- ing for mom’s bread and its unique taste. It is not the same as the one that a baker sells, even in the most reputable bakery. It tastes different from all the loaves of bread in the world but also makes something extraordinary. When the children come home, they kiss their mother’s old, worn-out hands, and after asking about her health and well-being, they sit down at the table and wait for the bread. They remember their hardworking father, who has already died, and their mother, who is always waiting for them at home. They remember their games, worries, and different moments in their family home. The desire for this bread is so great that when one of the children cannot come to the family gathering, another delivers the bread to him and tells him about the family reunion. The Eucharist is the breaking of the bread. What is it about this bread that people spend at least an hour every week going to Church to receive the white host? The secret is that this is the bread of Christ. Just as the theologian’s mother puts a lot of effort and love into baking her special bread, so Christ had to put in a lot of effort and pay the highest price to have the power to say to His disciples: “This is my Body given up for you,” and “Do this in memory of me.” We receive everything God has done for our salvation in the Eucharist, not only the Body of Jesus but everything He did for us out of love and obedience to His Father. Receiving communion should remind us of all events in the Bible that speak of God’s faithful care to save every human being. That is why receiving communion with reverence and respect is so important. Therefore, it is worth going to Holy Mass to become aware of the uniqueness of this Bread, which the priest shows to us while saying: “Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb.” The Eucharist is a great mystery that must be celebrat- ed well. The Holy Mass must be at the center of the Chris- tian life, and every community should make every effort to celebrate it solemnly. Father Adam Urbaniak is pastor of Our Lady of Victories Parish and Director of Voca- tions for the Diocese of Biloxi. Mystery of the Eucharist Father Urbaniak A Christmas Poem Amid a multitude of noise comes sacred angel song. Heaven to earth joining; earth to heaven rejoicing. A virgin held in the Father’s heart and espoused by the Holy Spirit Said yes when the world was too accustomed to no. Reverence the time now as Christ descends into Mary. Christmas is here. Praise God. Sing Glorias to this holy child. Philip C. Kolin Philip.Kolin@usm.edu