The Holy Eucharist: All of God, Loves All of Us!

Last week I stumbled across the John Legend song: All of Me.  I then remembered that several years ago I attended a conference on The Theology of the Body and the Eucharist and this song was actually shared by the presenter to expound on our understanding of Jesus’ self-offering:  Jesus in the Eucharist essentially says to us every time we come to Mass:  All of me loves all of you; and then we respond: You’re my end and my beginning, even when I lose I’m winning. Then Jesus says, “I give you all of me; and you give me all of you”.  The world-wide celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist is an invitation to recognize and reciprocate God’s ultimate act of love for us: The giving us his only begotten Son.  In Jesus, God says: ALL of me but more often than not WE say: SOME of me, if we respond at all.   
Today’s Feast reminds us just how profoundly blessed we are by God.  But it’s not enough to know that you are blessed.  You must know WHY you are blessed.  You are blessed by God precisely to become a blessing for others. 

In the best-selling book The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren describes the mindset this way: “Their prayers focus on their wants, needs, blessings, and happiness. It’s a ‘me-first’ faith” that asks “How can God make my life more comfortable [or successful]? They want to use God for their purposes instead of being used by God for his purposes.”    

The Holy Eucharist that we celebrate today can hardly be reduced to “Fast Food” however it IS meant to be eaten on the go – just like the original Passover in Egypt – with shoes already on their feet and ankle length robes tuck up under their belt so their feet are unencumbered when running. On this Feast of the Most Holy Eucharist, we worship with vibrancy and eat with urgency because there is no time to waste in letting the world know that ALL of God loves ALL of us. 
 

Learn the Art and the Ministry of Intercessory Prayer:

Do you feel called to intercessory prayer? 
Do you want to learn how you can grow in praying for others? 
Or do you have the gift of prayer? 
If you answered yes to any of those questions, we invite you to let us know by emailing
 staugustineprayer@gmail.com and providing your name, email address, phone number and the Mass you attend. We will be in touch with you soon for a meeting in which we will discuss the next steps including how you may be equipped to share your gift with the parish.

Renovation & Repair

As always, you can mail in contributions, or, from within the continental United States, make a cash donation through FaithDirect, or you can text-to-give at 202-930-8147. (Please type "PROJECTS" in the  comments.) 
You can also donate stock. 

Thank you for doing your part!
- Fr. Pat

Daily Mass is open to the public and takes place at 8:15am from Tuesday to Thursday in the Chapel located at 1419 V Street N.W. Washington, DC 20009 and on Fridays in the Church at the corner of 15^th and V Streets N.W.   Masks are required. 

NOTE: ONLY the Friday Mass will be accessible online via Livestream on the St. Augustine YouTube Channel.