THE EUCHARIST: THE CONTINUATION OF GOD’S CALL TO CONVERSION

Day 6, NOVENA IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL

Is 7: 1 – 9 / Ps 48 / Mt 11: 20 - 24

Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin, parents of St. Therese of the Child Jesus

The philosopher Heraclitus once said, “The only constant in this world is change.” And since, we cannot run away from change let me then ask you, what causes you to change? Unsa may makapausab nimo? (What will make you change?

The very visible manifestation of change is age. How you looked like when you were 5 years old is very different today that you are 65. Another manifestation of change is life events. I know that some of you have friends who were once rigid and strict, but after meeting the man of their dreams suddenly became the holiest person on earth. How about you, what are the changes in your life, and what caused them?

In our Gospel today, we heard Jesus reproaching the towns of Bethsaida, Chorazin, and Capernaum. You see, these towns are referred to by scholars as the Evangelical Triangle because it is in these areas where Jesus displayed most of his miracles.

But despite the many miracles which took place in this Evangelical Triangle, the people in these area were not convinced and converted. They cannot accept someone who was a son of a carpenter to be preaching the Good News and performing miracles in the name of God. Simply said, the presence of Jesus did not cause them to change for the better.

My dear friends, our theme this evening is, “The Eucharist:the Continuation of God’s call to Conversion.”

Our Catechism has taught us that “it is by the conversion of bread and wine into Christ’s body and blood that Christ becomes present in this sacrament.” The miracle taking place during the Mass is not just a simple walking on water or a feeding of a thousand people but a substantial change from bread and wine to the body and blood of Christ. Therefore, we who always receive the Eucharist, are challenged to conversion. Unlike the towns of Bethsaida, Chorazin, and Capernaum who remained unchanged, the Eucharist must be enough reason for us to be converted, to change for the better.

Consequently, I feel that this is our challenge as a people: we are all craving for change. And you might have already noticed some changes happening in our surroundings. However, this dream for national change can only become a long lasting reality if we allow the Eucharist to change our personal lives first.

Charles Cardinal Maung Bo in his homily during the opening Mass of the 51^st IEC said: “the Eucharist of the devotee ends in an hour while the Eucharist of the disciple is unending.” And since, we are not just devotees but disciples of the Lord, then, the great change that takes place every Mass must also change our lives.

This call to conversion, this call to change takes time. It does not happen overnight. A sudden experience of conversion is a gift for some. Let this challenge of conversion take place one step at a time.

Let me give you a concrete example. I know some of you might have enemies in the office. Every day, you meet these people because there is no other way, there is no excuse. And every time you see her or him, you suddenly pray that maayo untag ma slide na siya o mayab-an og kape (it would be better is he/she would slip, or maybe spilled with hot coffee)

But you see, if we have allowed the Eucharist and the novena to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel to change you, then, instead of wishing him/her bad luck, you would wish him/her blessings instead. Then you will discover that after some time of praying for him/her, you are already unblocking him/her on Facebook –  you are friends again, at least on Facebook. Sooner than you think, you are in speaking terms again. Awa, ang ending ana, magkadayon hinoon mo (just see, the ending might be you will end up together)!

My dear friends, I qouted Cardinal Bo earlier that the “Eucharist of the devotee ends in an hour while the Eucharist of the disciple is unending.” If I may add, it is also true to say that the novena of a Carmelite devotee ends on July 16 but the novena of a Carmelite disciple is unending. I hope and pray that the Eucharist and our devotion to Mary will bring us to conversion. I hope and pray that the presence of Jesus every time we celebrate the Mass will change us for the better so that Jesus will not reproach us like what he did to the towns in our Gospel this evening.

Finally my dear friends, today is also the memorial of Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin, the parents of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. For married couples who are here, I recommend to you Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin as your patron saints in your married life. Louis was a simple watchmaker while Zelie was a lacemaker. Yet, just last October 18, 2015, Pope Francis canonized them as saints. And if you read their biographies, you will discover that what changed them from an ordinary couple to holy saints was their love for the Eucharist.

And so we pray: change my heart O God make it ever true. Change my heart O God, may I be like you. You are the potter I am the clay, make me and mold me this is what I pray. Change my heart O God. May I be like you. Amen.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, pray for us.

Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin, pray for us.