Corpus Christi Sunday

Our readings for Corpus Christi Sunday are:

1. Genesis 14: 18-20
2. Psalm 110: 1, 2, 3, 4
3. 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26
4. Luke 9: 11b-17

1. Time, talent, treasure
• What are your gifts?
• How has God contributed to the ongoing development and unfolding of those gifts?
• How have you expressed your gratitude for those gifts?
• If you get paid for doing something, is it still ministry?
• If you don't get paid for doing something, is it necessarily giving back to God?
• How would you be better able to tithe of all your gifts?
2. Priestly people
• How would you describe the function of a priest?
• Beyond performing rites, performing administration, what else?
• What would you think are the deepest qualities needed in a priest?
• What about you is priestly?
3. Putting it all on the table
• The preparation of the gifts reads: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.
• Why do you think that it's important that the bread that we offer is both the fruit of the earth and the work of human hands?
• Is Eucharist the only place where this dynamic is operative?
• What does that tell us about our work?
4. Christ in me arise ...
• What do you think Jesus expected His disciples to do for all of those hungry people?
• What sorts of "feeding" do you see that need to go on in our parish today?
• Who do you think is going to meet those needs?
• Does it necessarily need to happen within a parish context?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Have I offered up my work, day in, day out, to God?
2. Have I been there, really there, for those around me who needed the Christ within me?
3. Is the work of my hands giving life to others?
4. How am I giving myself away this week?

I'd rather work the ladle if you don't mind

Working the soup kitchen with the Confirmation kids was always a tough one.
The kids, they all come from middle class homes, no food or shelter anxiety.

First shock to their system is that these people who live welfare check to check,
Are just a couple of miles down the road, right there in downtown.

Second shock is that these folks, they're grateful for the food and drink.
No doubt about that, but they want, they need more.  They need someone to care.

Best way to show that is to give them some of your time.  Hear their story.
Let them open up a little and share how they got there, what's holding them.

Hard part is, you only have the resources for one meal, not a lifetime.
There is no easy fix for this, no one shot fund raiser is going to fix this one.

And in the meantime, these folks, they're making it as best as they can,
One day at a time.  No grand future, no long range plans, no expectations.

And you don't know where this listening is going to take you either.
I just know it's safer in the kitchen, loading up soup bowls.

Takes courage to set the utensils down, set a spell with the folks,
And be more than just a meal that they'll soon forget.

If Jesus were here today, would He be one of the ones organizing the food drive,
Chopping the vegetables for stew, serving it up, setting down with the guests,

Or maybe shuffling in off the street, looking for someone to show some concern?
Shalom!