Homily, Staff Mass
Catholic Pastoral Center
December 23, 2004

My dear Brothers and Sisters
        The Advent-Christmas seasons can be much more than liturgical  observances.  They can be what the Church envisioned them to be – opportunities of grace and spiritual renewal.  This is true for all people of  faith but especially for you and for me, people who by employment, spend a major portion of our lives working in and for the Church.  Today, therefore, as we gather here completing the Advent season and preparing to begin the Christmas observances, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to you for your dedication and your service.

          In today’s Scripture readings, we heard the prophet Malachi informing the people that the Lord’s plan included sending messengers in advance to prepare the way for His coming.  In the Gospel we see that plan of God about to be fulfilled in the person of John the Baptist.  Since this Gospel concerns the events surrounding the birth of John, however, we must also recall the Scriptures we heard earlier in Advent.  John was indeed the one who was truly messenger par excellence and the pre-cursor of Jesus.  What is most important in this Gospel however is the consensus which the people expressed about John:  “What will this child be?  Was not the hand of the Lord upon Him?”

          As people of faith, that same acclamation can be made about each of us.  Truly the hand of the Lord is upon us.  That is the whole message of  Christmas.  “God is with us.”  “God so loved the world that He sent His Son Jesus to save us.”

          The presence of Jesus was proclaimed at Bethlehem by the angels, the shepherds and the magi.  The presence of Jesus today is proclaimed in a special way by the Church.  Our Catholic faith is totally based on the Person of Jesus.  We acknowledge His Presence in the world in many ways.  But the most unique and dramatic is Jesus’ Presence in the Holy Eucharist.  Bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus.  Again it is God Who so loves us that He sends His Son Jesus to save us.  Jesus loves us so much that He gives Himself up for our salvation.  “Take My Flesh and eat It.  Take My Blood and drink It and you shall have life everlasting.”

          If the Eucharist is the heart of the Church, which indeed it is, then each of us associated with the work of the Church must develop a very special Eucharistic devotion.  Mass cannot be simply a liturgical celebration.  Nor should it ever be considered only an obligation.    The Mass must always be a renewal, a conversion,  a faith experience and, yes, even a sacrifice on our part.

          Pope John Paul II has called us to this Eucharistic renewal by designating a special Year of the Eucharist.  This Eucharistic Year coincides with our own centennial year of the Diocese of Oklahoma.  As we celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the diocese, we cannot help but notice that the Eucharist has been the reason for the establishment of the diocese.  The Eucharist has been the source of our growth and development.  The Eucharist is the heart of our plans and hopes for the future.

          Gathered here together today, I thank you for your good work of the past.  I encourage you to continue developing your personal devotion to our Eucharistic Lord.  I challenge you to recognize that, like the prophets of old and John the Baptist and all others called to work for the Lord, we must be totally committed and dedicated.  This is evident when we enthusiastically and joyfully work together for the honor and glory of God.  Thank you and may you have a most Blessed Christmas.

                                                          Most Reverend Eusebius J. Beltran
Archbishop of Oklahoma City