Homily: May 21, 2023, Ascension Sunday (First communion celebration)

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Hello children receiving first holy communion, good morning! All of you look wonderful! I have never seen you all look so bright as you do today. And you look very happy, your family and friends here are happy for you, everyone at this Mass and I are also very happy for you.

And do you know who is the happiest? Jesus! He has been waiting!

Yes, today is a very important day of your life, and this Mass is a very special Mass for you. This is the first Mass in which you will be participating fully. You will no longer just watch others receive holy communion, you will be receiving Jesus into your hearts today, like everyone else.

You have been waiting many years, Jesus too. Finally in about 20 minutes or so, you and Jesus will become one, united spiritually AND physically!

Are you looking forward to it?

Yes, I thought so, thus I decided to shorten my homily from 30 minutes to just 10 minutes, is that good?

But you will need to be patient, because to receive Jesus fully into your hearts, you must also receive His word, because Jesus is the WORD MADE FLESH.

Did you pay attention to the Gospel reading?

Then you must have heard these words of Jesus. He said, "And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

After He said these words, He was lifted up into heaven. Jesus does not lie. And He is faithful to His promises. Now, how can He be with us always if He has gone up to heaven?

Two ways, He sends us His Holy Spirit and He became our daily bread. We received the Holy Spirit at baptism and we receive Jesus, the bread of life in the Eucharist at every Mass. Jesus wants so much to be with us and in us, He became food for us. 

Do you really believe that Jesus is truly present in the Holy Eucharist?

Let me tell you a story, a true story, witnessed by many people, verified by the authorities and approved by the Church after investigations.

It happened on November 30, 1433, that is 590 years ago, in the city of Avignon in France. There was a small Church of the Holy Cross and the friars of the church exposed the Blessed Sacrament on the altar day and night for the people to venerate and adore anytime.

Those few days it rained and rained, so much so that the river overflowed and flooded the city. The floods rose up to 4 feet high very fast. Oh no, the Blessed Sacrament on the altar might be swept away by the raging flood waters!

The friars quickly rowed their boat to the church to bring the Blessed Sacrament to safety. From a distance they could see that the church was flooded all around. Upon reaching the church entrance, they saw… can you guess what they saw?

Inside the church, along the middle aisle, the flood waters were parted and splashing to the left and right, and the aisle was completely dry all the way to the altar. The altar and the Blessed Sacrament were totally untouched by the flood waters!

The friars went back to call the other friars to see and verify the miraculous event. Many other people heard the news, went to the church and witnessed it too!


That scene reminded them of the parting of the red sea when God saved the Israelites from the Egyptians. The miracle in Avignon shows us that the Holy Eucharist is not just a piece of wafer bread. After consecration at Mass, it becomes the real body of Christ. The miracle tells us that Jesus truly is present in the Eucharist and He is with us always.

It is difficult to believe, and Jesus understands, thus throughout the centuries, He has performed hundreds of Eucharistic miracles in different places to help us believe.

Jesus tells the disciples, and us, that He will be with us always, and so He will. He wants so much for us to receive Him, and be united with Him in our hearts.

So, please come to Mass and receive Jesus daily or at least once a week at Sunday Mass. And come anytime to adore Jesus in Blessed Sacrament kept in the tabernacle.

Parents, please bring your children to Mass and adoration, do not fail Jesus, He yearns to be with us always. From today, your child can receive holy communion at every Mass. Just as you would not deprive them of nutrition for their body, please do not deprive them this most important, precious and real food for their soul.

First communicants, I hope you will never forget this day. I have never forgotten my first communion and every detail of that day, that moment I received Jesus first time.

After you have received your very first communion later, please spend that intimate moment with Jesus prayerfully, ignore the others and just be with Jesus in your heart, talk to Him, sense Him, thank Him for this gift, and ask Him to help you to keep receiving Him for the rest of your life.

And if you can remember this prayer, say it later, "Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours." (repeat)

Amen.


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