Come home.

REFLECTION - Eucharist - Catholics Come Home

Been a Eucharist filled couple of days, I guess. Eucharistic adoration last night at LIFT, followed by daily mass this morning at St. John’s.

In today’s Gospel Jesus says, “For whoever is not against us is for us.” The pastor of St. John’s talked about parochial belief and how we all tend to be rather exclusive in our lives and in our churches. He talked about how in 2004, when the Archdiocese of Boston had to close and merge parishes, many were hurt and confused. He spoke on how the Catholic Church really stretches farther across the globe than any other organization (better than the U.N., etc), how we need to recognize and respect our brothers in sisters in Christ (whether they are fellow Catholics in different parishes, or even fellow Christians in different churches), and how we are all called to avoid bigotry and live respect.

Well, now its 2011. This Lent launches the Catholics Come Home campaign in the Archdiocese of Boston. And so, I say to all the Catholics who have fallen away from the Church,

“Come home.”

Jesus, is calling YOU home. Jesus desires to be with you. Particularly, Jesus, present in the Eucharist, tells you to return, to come home. The forgiveness of our Lord is far, FAR greater than any degree of sin or separation. You have never done, and will never do anything to sinful for the Father to forgive. He is greater than any sin, any mistake, and any concern you may have with the teachings of the Catholic Church. We must never think we are too sinful, too “bad,” that we don’t belong or will not be welcome in a Church. It is not so. Jesus has won! He is victorious over sin and death! Your sinfulness pales in comparison to the love and glory of the Father. He overshadows all evil, all of our evil.

Come home, come home, come home.

Come and find rest in the arms of the Father. Come and find a peace you have never imagined. I have found my peace - the peace of Christ. Regardless of any problem, I know and trust that I can run into the arms of my Father and find comfort and peace. No problem too great, no situation too stressful. Jesus has defeated it, God will hold you through it, He will be your strength. People will fail you, money may run out, and our world is certainly broken - but God is greater. He is perfect. He is strength for those who call upon Him and for those who simply fall into His arms when they have spent all their energy and emotion.

Come back to the Church, but far more importantly - come back to God. His arms are open wide, ready to pour forth forgiveness. He is overflowing in mercy. Take one step towards Him and he will walk a mile to you.

Let God love you with a love far greater and far more powerful than one you could ever dream of.