Sermon Cloud

This weekend, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of the Lord. Today we thank God especially for the gift of the Eucharist, His body and blood which He provides as food for us, and through which he gives us strength to live as His people.

We might be tempted at times to think that God's gifts, like presents we share with one another, are meant to be given and received once, but God never gives a gift without the condition that we in turn share it with others. In fact it is often only when we reach out to others and give of ourselves that the true meaning of the gift is realized.

Unfortunately, although the scriptures show us that Jesus was radical in his commitment to giving of himself so that the world could be transformed, Catholics have sometimes been slow to respond in radical ways to His invitation to feed the multitudes (Lk 9:13). Like the disciples, we are aware of the needs of others (Lk 9:12), but don't always know how to respond.

For almost a year now, I have been here in this parish, journeying with you from week to week, sharing moments of celebration and sadness. During this time, I have come to know some of the rich history of mission that this parish has been famous for, but I can't stop wondering if there is more that we can do.

The bible tells us that breaking bread has been a central part of our faith from it's very beginning. The story of Abram and King Melchizedek in the first reading today ( Gn 14:18-20) is but one example of the power of a shared meal to unite God's people. Jesus himself invited us to share a meal together ( 1 Cor 11:23-26) and it is this meal that unites us even today.

After a bit of research, I discovered a concept known as Community Kitchens. Similar to the concept of the Soup Kitchen, where people are invited to gather for lunch, Community Kitchens provide an opportunity for people to gather, but this time they cook together. I began to think, 'what a wonderful possibility for building community!' Could we invite people to come together and give them a place to share their stories, to learn from one another and to share the task of cooking a meal that they could then take home to their families?

Are there people in this parish who would be willing to share their talents in the kitchen? We would need people who are willing to plan menus, to shop for necessary ingredients, to open and close doors, to help with cleanup. Would anyone accept the invitation? What about the possibility of taking care of young children while their mothers or fathers were preparing food?

I'm sure there are a number of other considerations but we're only at the initial stages. What we need to know is whether or not there is an interest on the part of the parishioners to support such a venture. In the pews this weekend, you will find small pieces of paper and pencils. If you think that this idea is a good one, please put a happy face on the paper and drop it in the collection basket. If you think you might be willing to help in some way with this project, please write your name on the paper too. If you want to take some time to think about it, and provide feedback next week, please do so. Write your comments and leave them in the collection baskets. After the weekend of June 24, we will review the responses to see if there is enough interest to continue with the planning of this project.

Jesus gave us an example by feeding the multitudes ( Lk 9:13-17) and invited us to do the same. We have been given a gift which we are being asked to share with others. Won't you consider the possibility of accepting the mission? Other churches and agencies in Sudbury have. Why can't we?