I had a wonderful seminary professor, Fr. John Duffy, from Boston. Am I stating the obvious, saying he was wise and from Boston? (I’m from Boston.) Fr. Duffy was a philosopher, an artist, a poet. In fact, his books of poetry are compared to Robert Frost, only better. He was teaching us a theology course and he asked if anyone could tell him the best proof of God’s existence. Our went up and we said you could prove God’s existence through nature, or causality, or there has to be a prime mover, someone to initiate it all. He kept shaking his head, “No, no, no, no.” Finally, we ran out of proofs for God’s existence, and he said the best proof of God’s existence is the communion line which forms every Sunday. Through all the centuries of our church, through our heresies and crusades, through our public and private sins; faith-filled people have lined up every Sunday to receive our Lord in Holy Communion. They remembered.
Most of our parents and grandparents did not have a born-again, Billy Graham crusade experience. They received the sacraments. They grew up with them, experienced them every Sunday of their lives. The Eucharist was the transformative food that nourished their souls and made them who they were. It is what they passed on to us.
Jesus said, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” We do not need extraordinary spiritual experiences and private revelations. They can be helpful, but they are not necessary. We have all that we need for our salvation in our Catholic faith. God will make God’s home with us and give us all that need when we need it. A steady receiving of God’s Word and sacrament is all the nourishment we need.
Easter Blessings,
Fr. Kevin MacDonald, C.Ss.R.
POWERED BY BLUBRRY
