Corpus Christi (Transferred), June 23rd, 2019

Solemnity of Corpus Christi (Transferred), June 23rd, 2019

Now once upon a time we were informed that there were some puppies which needed homes.  Since we didn't have a dog at the time, my wife immediately stated that we should get one.  I asked how much is this puppy going to cost us?  To which the reply came:  "Oh, don't worry about that.  It's free!  No cost for the puppy."   Famous last words.  As soon as we brought the "free" puppy home the costs began adding up:  puppy chow; puppy toys; puppy collars and leashes.  Don't forget the puppy treats.  Trust me, we can't forget those.  Oh, and the trips to the Vet to get the puppy shots.  Then as the puppy grew into a dog . . . .. really, he grew into a small horse, but that's a different issue altogether . . . .  the costs continued.  Once he got bigger we then had to have a fence installed around the backyard so that the small horse . . . . I mean, dog can run around.  Pounds and pounds of dog food.  Pounds and pounds of treats.  Trips back and forth to the vet.  Well, you get the idea.  Our "free" dog has now cost us thousands of dollars.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love our small horse . . .  I mean dog.  He brings a lot of joy and love to our home.   My point is that some things aren't what they seem.  In my opinion, there ain't no such thing as a "free puppy."  

In the Sixth Chapter of the Gospel of St. John, we hear Our Blessed Lord speaking to the people.  He was telling them about the bread which came down from Heaven when their fathers ate manna in the desert.   And Our Blessed Saviour made the point that the manna which Moses gave the people was not the true bread from Heaven, "but My Father giveth you the true bread from Heaven."  (St. John 6: 32)  Of course, the people asked for the true bread sent down from Heaven and asked how they could receive it.  Our Lord replied:  "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."  (v. 35)  Now there were many there that did not believe the words Our Lord had just spoken to them.  Even St. John makes mention of this fact.  He writes that there were many Jews which could not understand what Our Lord was saying in regards to Him being the "bread which came down from Heaven." (v. 41)  "And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?  How is it then that He saith, I came down from Heaven?" (v. 42)  To these Jews, to them this merely was Joseph and Mary's son.   This was Jesus, the lowly carpenter from Nazareth.  From all outward appearances this was just an ordinary man.   In other words, they were merely looking at Jesus with their human sight.  They were seeing Our Lord with their human eyes and hearing what He said with their human ears.  But remember so often things are not what they seem.  Our Lord Who appeared before these vast crowds came to the world with no army.  He had no rank nor was He born with any title of privilege.  He had no earthly kingdom.  To those who saw Him through their own human eyes, He was just an ordinary man, as they stated  the son of Joseph and Mary, whom they knew.  But this man was far from ordinary.  He was the Son of God sent to save us from our sins.  Not only that, He freely chooses to give of His own body and blood to nourish us, to sustain us, to feed us:  "My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him."  (St. John 6:55-56)   To outward appearances it appears as though we are merely receiving a small host and drinking a little bit of wine.  But Our Lord stated:  "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst." (St. John 6:35)  Our Lord is the One Who nourishes us and feeds us.  He is the One Who gives of Himself so that we might live.  This is how much He loves us.  "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger . . . . "

Join us as we listen to the Word of God found in the King James Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.  Join us as we join together as God's family and worship Our Heavenly Father.  Join us as we come to the altar to be fed the Precious Body and Blood at Communion time.  And, finally, please stay after Mass for some fellowship at our coffee hour.

St. Margaret Anglican Church worships at the beautiful Chapel at Marquette Manor, which is located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.  Mass begins at 9:30 AM.