17th Sunday in Ordinary Time C

INTRO:

-Not too long ago, I watched the gentle hands of an EMT worker carefully lifting a loved one and bringing them to rescue. The use of their hands was tender and life-giving.

-Just watch the hands of our skillful youth, using their:
I-phone
I-pad
X-box
And play station!

-Today, many of you will use your hands:
To cook
To stir
Or to lift food from oven to table!

Within the history of salvation …. The use of hands is prominent.
Miraculous things have happened over thousands of years with the use of someone’s hands and continues today.

Remember, Jesus was crucified. A horrible way to die, where his hands, which performed many astounding deeds of charity throughout his years of public ministry in Galilee and Jerusalem, were outstretched, abused with the pounding of nails, to cause him to be ineffective!

BUT amazingly, this did not stop Him from being wonderfully effective, and even though Christ’s hands were secured to the wood he still reached out and SAVED US!

And so, our hands in imitation of him will always be effective, if we keep them open in prayer and in giving what others ask of us.

“What father would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish.”

CONCLUSION:

This morning, beautifully and prayerfully my hands will be outstretched:
• over bread and wine,

…… so that all of you can receive this great sacrament of the Eucharist, becoming nourished with the person of Jesus Christ and the use of His hands.

Let us use our hands effectively today!