Homily – 9:00 a.m.   Mass                                                   Feast of the Body & Blood of Christ

 June 6, 2010                                                                             8th Grade Graduation Homily    

             “Oh, No!   I can’t believe this!”  cried the dad as he surveyed the disaster before him!

Never in his forty years of life had he seen anything like it.  How anyone could have survived he did not know.  He could only hope that somewhere amid the overwhelming destruction he could find his 14 year-old son.  Only the slim hope of finding Tommy kept him from turning and fleeing the scene.  He took a deep breath and proceeded.  

Walking was virtually impossible with so many things strewn across his path.  He moved ahead slowly.  “Tommy! Tommy!” he whispered to himself.  He tripped and almost fell several times.  He heard someone, or something, move.  At least he thought he did.  Perhaps, he was just hoping he did.

He shook his head and felt his gut tighten.  He couldn’t understand how this could have happened.  There was some light but not enough to see very much.  Something cold and wet brushed against his hand.  He jerked it away.  In desperation, he took another step then cried out, “Tommy!”  From a nearby pile of unidentified material, he heard his son.

`”Yes, Dad,” The boy said, in a voice so weak he could hardly hear.  The Father sighed—”It’s time to get up and get ready for school,”  and, for heaven’s sake, clean up this room!

I offer heartfelt congratulations to our Grammar School Graduates—Class of 2010. 

You are an outstanding class!  You were born my last year as Associate Pastor of St Mary of the Woods (1996) before beginning as Pastor on January 1.    Many of our 2010 St. Mary of the Woods graduates were “graduating” from the crawling stage to their first steps at the time.

And speaking of dates, I was speaking with Mr. Kelly and Mr. Pischke at last Thursday’s 8th Grade Graduation Dance.  The graduates were having a wonderful time and many parents were taking plenty of pictures.  I told Mr. Kelly and Mr. Pischke this was my 18th and last Graduation Dance. I told them my first Graduation Dance was in June 1993—and those graduates are now 31 years old!  Mr. Pischke  said “I have shoes older than that!”   Mr. Pischke said, “ I began here in September, 1973 and graduates from my first class of St. Mary of the Woods are now 50 years old!”  And I know one of the graduates of 1974 is here in Church right now!  And, by the way,  Rachel Bentivenga’s grandmother started the Graduation Dance here 35 years ago!

Today we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Christ.  I don’t think we could have chosen a better day to celebrate your graduation than this wonderful Feast!

Let me make it very clear—

The Lord is present in the Eucharist.

The Lord is present in our lives.

We are the Body of Christ.  For Eucharist exists not only to change bread and wine, but to change us.

Eucharist is about life.  I also happen to love trees — and trees this time of year speak of life.  And trees do speak to us in their beauty.

If a tree could whisper to us, I bet she would share this advice:

1.  Stand tall and proud.

2.  Sink your roots into the soil of the earth.

3.  Be content with your natural beauty.

4.  Go out on a limb every so often.

5.   Drink plenty of water.

6.  Remember your roots.

7.  And enjoy the view.

At the same time, Eucharist offers us daily guidance.  Someone once wrote the following—When I meditated on the word guidance, I kept seeing “dance” at the end of the word.   I remember reading that doing God’s will is a lot like dancing.  When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.  The movement doesn’t flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.  When one person relaxes and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music.  One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.  It’s as if two become one body, moving beautifully.  The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word guidance.  When I saw the letter “G,” I thought of  God, followed by “u” and “i.” God, “u” and “I” dance.  God, you, and I dance.  This statement is what guidance means to me.

As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life.  Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

To all our marvelous graduates — let the Lord guide your life — Let the Lord lead the dance.

I would also like to add your parents love you unconditionally and want nothing but the best for you.  The same can be said about your Teachers, Mr. Kelly, the Priests and the entire St. Mary of the Woods Staff.

Of all the gifts you will receive on this Graduation Day the gift of Family and the gift of Eucharist are most special if you know it or not.  But as the Body of Christ also make yourself a gift to others.

For life is more accurately measured by the lives we touch,  than the things we acquire.

Father Greg Sakowicz