Replies

Their new priest, Bozek, is actually a leftist. For instance, take a look at this:

http://www.saintagnescathedral.org/homilies/20050731.htm
The Eucharist is an inclusive reality – all races, all languages, all lifestyles. “All ate and all were satisfied”. This is showing us a beautiful image of God’s love, a table for everyone. It is especially important for those who are suffering hunger and thirst, who need food and drink. Last year a small but very vocal group of bishops made statements regarding which candidates running for public offices could and which could not receive the Holy Communion. It caused a situation where neither of the presidential candidates was invited to communicate in a catholic church - one was a Methodist and the other not Catholic enough. I ask myself how does this relate to the word all we are talking about today? It is clear that nobody really deserves to welcome Lord Jesus into his or her heart. Yet we need to remember that during each Eucharist, right before the Holy Communion rite we all proclaim: “Lord I am not worthy to receive you, but only say a word and I shall be healed”. The truth is that none of us is holy or good enough. None of us here present can say “I am good and I have a right to join communion line.” At the Last Supper there were at least twelve Apostles plus Jesus. Twelve, including Judas who was about to betray his Master. Jesus knew that, he knew also that Judas was stealing money. Jesus could have asked Judas to leave the table for he was not worthy to participate in the first Eucharist ever, he could have sent Judas to confession at least. Yet, the Gospels say Jesus gave Judas the Bread himself. What an amazing gesture! A mouth that will shortly betray Jesus by kissing his cheek is now consuming the bread and wine that we will consume today. Yes, none of us is worthy enough or deserving enough to be here. But we are called without reservation and without conditions, no matter what state of life we are in – or who we voted for. All are welcome.
The second reading was from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans. He speaks of all these realities that cannot separate us from the love of God – no powers or authorities, no riches or nakedness, not even angels. St. Paul meant what he said and he deeply believed that there is nothing strong enough to separate us from the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ. Not guilt, sinfulness or mistakes. Nothing.
When John Paul II was with us some accused him of tolerating so called “cafeteria Catholics”. These, supposedly are Catholics who chose to remain in the Church, but they pick and choose what parts of the faith work for them and which don’t. When Cardinal Ratzinger was elected the new pope T-shirts appeared that read “Ratzinger is Pope Now – Cafeteria Closed”. Benedict XVI of course did not sponsor this, he is too wise to propagate such a vision of the Church. Let’s think for a moment though about this “cafeteria” image. In our school days if the cafeteria was closed we would go somewhere else to eat – or we would go hungry. Do we want that kind of a Church? One that would leave us hungry? Isaiah invited all come and eat and drink at the God’s table. And today we do come here to St. Agnes. We come thirsty and hungry. We come with our broken and imperfect human nature. And we here today this wonderful Good Message that nothing can indeed separate us from the love of God.
The word all links the readings together today but it also appears at the most holy moment of the Eucharistic liturgy. At the consecration narrative the priest says “This is my Body which will be given up for you and for all. This is my Blood – shed for you and for all”.
The Body and Blood of Christ is for all. There is only one question we need to ask ourselves – am I hungry enough, am I thirsty enough? If you are, welcome to God’s feast!

So much for St. Paul, right? "But let a man prove himself: and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the chalice. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord." (1 Cor. 11:28-29)