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  Love Letters - Readership

Celebration, “Do this in memory of me.”

Fr. Bob McDonald, S.M.

I once had difficulty with this command from Jesus to celebrate. I could not understand how it is possible to celebrate when feeling “down.” There are moments when fear, or anger, or loneliness take over, and prevent me from celebrating. As a Catalyst, I like to celebrate. There are moments when I cannot keep my feet from dancing. I let go Sunday night at the big party for Seniors at the Knights of Columbus Hall, when Jimmy was playing Felice Navidad... and the word is all over town about Father Mac (that’s my name in Van Buren, Maine).

Now that the “Energizer Bunny” is experiencing increasing disability, it is necessary for me to focus on the mystery of the Eucharist in order to really celebrate.

I celebrate the Eucharist every day! I now understand that my peace and joy come when I am celebrating with Jesus, remembering Him. This Sacrament is His gift to us the night before He died. It is His way of joining us to His Birth, His Sacrifice and Death, and His Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven. In celebrating with Him, time and space are erased. All the events of His life are made present. He is living out the Mysteries in us.

At the Offertory, we bring forward our gifts of bread and wine. We are bringing ourselves. When the moment of Consecration comes, we say with Him, “This is my body,” we become one with Him. The mystery of Incarnation and Christmas happens in us. We repeat with Him: “This is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant; it will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven.” We are on Calvary with Him, in the midst of all his suffering, giving ourselves up with Him, so that His peace may come to the whole world.

“Do this in memory of me” is not so much a command, but an invitation to celebrate. For His Resurrection is taking place in us daily. His dreams for us of being One Body in Him, of winning the victory over sin and death, are coming true in us.

So, as I raise the bread and wine, I think of all of you, wherever you may be, and offer you up with my own offering, joining it with Jesus. As I do I experience His peace and His joy. The Eucharist is the center of my life, and you are all there with me.

Please continue to pray for me, that I may remain faithful to His Love.

I love you, in Christ our High Priest.
Fr. Bob McDonald, S.M.

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