Homily

Welcome Mass for Fr Phelim O'Hare (Annette, Fiacra & Owen)

Readings: Deuteronomy 8:7-16 ; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 and John 6:51-58

My text: v51 'I AM the living bread' 
ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἄρτος ὁ ζῶν

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

As intro talk about season 1, episode 6 of 'Rev' called 'Is the answer Jesus, Sir?'

Assembly with Fr Adam. Question, who brought down the 10 commandments? Answers: Was it baby Jesus? No. Hand up - 'Isn't the answer always Jesus, Sir?' 

(Jokingly) now for those who know the series you'll be pleased to know I'm not making any comparison between Fr Adam and Fr Phelim. Etc.

Tonight as we gather for our Eucharist to celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi (The Thanksgiving for the institution of the Holy Communion) and to welcome a new parish priest. I trust that as we are gathered here, we can all have confidence that the answer we are seeking is most definitely JESUS, THE LIVING BREAD.

The central focal point of faith experience for many Christians is Holy Communion. In the Eucharist, unity with God becomes palpable, tangible. Through Holy Communion, we understand the type of God we worship, a God of self-giving and a God of relationship. We see this throughout our Scripture readings. And we called to respond in faith and thanksgiving, with the basic Christian disposition of gratitude, of the recognition of God's gift of God's very self. I AM the living bread. (cf. Moses & the burning bush. Who do I say has sent me? Say to them I AM has sent me to you.) The self disclosure of God, in the burning bush, in Jesus and in the Eucharist.

Eucharist - Eucharistia - THANKSGIVING is at the heart of what we are doing this evening.  The life, death, resurrection and ascension of our Lord is given thanks for, commemorated, made present to us, in the Eucharistic prayer. His body broken for us, powerfully links the Eucharist with the Cross. In HIS brokenness on the cross, OUR brokenness, our sin, is taken upon him and is transformed and healed. 

The One who came down from heaven for "us and our salvation" as we say in the creed, who died and rose again, and ascended to the right hand of the Father, also pours out his risen and ascended life in bread and wine that become His body and blood, OUR sacramental food, for US His body on earth, the Church, to feed and nourish us on our earthly pilgrimage. To form us in worship, in witness and in service to the World. 

Along with our thanksgiving this evening for such a great and precious gift as the Holy Eucharist, so we are also giving thanks for our new parish priest AND his family.

As Anglican Christians we believe that Christ has ordered his Church with the bishops as the successors of the Apostles. With them are their presbyters who share in the apostolic ministry of preaching the pure word of God and celebrating the sacraments of the new covenant, supremely seen in celebrating the Holy Eucharist. Fr Phelim comes among you to do this, to serve, to encourage, to bless and to enable the life of God's people in this parish.

He and his family bring their charisms with them and will share in the life and witness of the church in the place.  (Talk briefly about the family) I pray that you will nurture them too. 

Why do we offer thanks for all this? For the Eucharist, for our new parish priest and his family? Because I trust, that we know that JESUS is the answer, the answer to the deepest longings of our humanity. That we know and trust that Jesus is the "icon of the invisible God" who comes to us this night as the "living bread" of the Eucharist. 

In this, as in every Eucharist, let us be drawn into the very life and communion of the Triune God whom we worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

AMEN.