Third Sunday of Easter (B) 2024

INTRO: There is a “catchy”’ commercial on TV for the CAPTIAL ONE BANK CARD: “What’s in your wallet?”

Well, I do not want to ask you that, but I would ask you:

“What’s in your refrigerator?”

Well FOOD is in your refrigerator.

What is it about food? It affects all of us in some way, doesn’t it?

Even in Jesus’ day food was a part of life as today Jesus in the Gospel from Luke, Jesus asks, HAVE YOU HAD ANYTHING TO EAT?

This eating was hospitality at its finest on this EASTER SUNDAY meeting between Jesus and His Apostles.

And you must remember that THEY always dined together …… this small community of Apostles and Jesus. They were friends, bonded in a mission of faith and love. Jesus enjoyed them and the Apostles enjoyed him.

I must tell you that this hospitality of dining together foreshadows the best nourishment of all. It foreshadows coming together around this TABLE, this ALTAR as friends, likewise bonded in a mission of faith and love. It foreshadows the Mass and receiving HOLY COMMUNION.

We are, today, carrying on the work of the Apostles that began so long ago.

AND….
We can only do this with HIS nourishment, for when we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim His death until he comes again!

Receiving communion causes us to become JESUS for the entire world to see.

That is why this holy food is so important to us, to the church, and to the world!

Our church and world need other CHRIST’S walking around, behaving in His image and likeness.

Holy Communion helps the world become a better place!

CONCLUSION

So, instead of “What’s in your refrigerator?” it should be:
“What’s in your church?”
And the answer being:

THE REAL PRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE FORM OF BREAD AND WINE causing us to become other-Christ’s in the world for people to see to make the world a better place!