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Rite
of Election My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: With great joy I welcome you here today for this beautiful ceremony of the Rite of Election. You have come from all over our Archdiocese and I am very pleased to see so many of you. I especially welcome the catechumens and the candidates. I extend a grateful word of appreciation to the priests, the religious instructors and the sponsors whom the ritual devoutly call “godparents.” You are all welcome here to Our Lady’s Cathedral, the principal church of our Archdiocese. You are welcomed into the community of the elect in our holy Catholic Church. Catechumens and candidates, this ceremony is about you and your relationship with Jesus. This relationship is necessarily both personal and communal. Personally, each of you, like all human beings, must eventually stand before the Lord on that final day of judgment before entering eternity. However, as is quite obvious, our time on earth is not lived in isolation. Rather, we are members of families. We share a common culture. We are citizens of our country. We rub shoulder to shoulder with each other daily. Together we form the human race. The entire human race suffered as a result of the sin ofour first parents. God in His infinite power and eternal presence saw each of us and all of humanity when He said: “I will send My Son and He will save you.” This plan of God for us, the human family, is reported in the Old Testament of the Bible. It culminates with the birth of Jesus Who comes as Lord and Savior. He is the fulfillment of God’s plan. He is our Redeemer. Thus the Old Testament leads directly into the New Testament, giving us the complete plan of God. It is not just a book. It is not just past history. It is a Person Who is a Redeemer. It is Jesus through Whom all salvation comes. In fact, as the Bible itself testifies, “There is salvation in no other Name but Jesus.” For our ceremony today, I selected the Gospel account of the two disciples on their journey to the little town of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. They were people of faith but somewhat confused. They believed in Jesus and were so very sure that He was the Lord and Savior. The recent events in Jerusalem had captivated everyone. The suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus was the talk of the town. They were absolutely astounded that this “stranger” they met on the road to Emmaus at first seemed to be the only one who did not know about these events. But as the stranger spoke, their minds and hearts were burning within them. But they did not recognize Jesus until at the table when He took bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to them. With that, their eyes were opened and they recognized Him! In the breaking of the Bread, they recognized Him! The breaking of the Bread is the description given to the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. The Eucharist is the true Body and Blood of Jesus. This is very clear from the numerous teachings of Jesus and His disciples in the writings of the New Testament. It is the fundamental teaching of the Church in the very first century of its existence. It is the constant and unchanging teaching of the Catholic Church for two thousand years. The Eucharist is the foundation and goal of our faith. It is the center of our Catholic belief because the Eucharist is truly the Lord Jesus. I said earlier that I had selected the Gospel account of the Apostles on the way to Emmaus for a very specific reason. Actually, for two reasons. First, as stated above, it is a clear exposition of the meaning of our Catholic faith. Secondly, because I believe we are all on an Emmaus journey. You and I have heard about Jesus and all the marvelous events of His life. Yet our eyes are often not open to the continuing actions and presence of Jesus in the world today. Each of us is at a different place in that journey of faith. You are at that place where your hearts are burning as you hear and begin to experience the fact of Jesus’ unique and constant Presence in the Catholic Church. Your entering in the RCIA in your local parish is a great step in the journey – but it is only the beginning. There are many steps, many days and countless experiences of faith ahead of you. Catechumens and candidates, earlier I said this ceremony today is about you and your relationship with Jesus. The Emmaus story shows us that while our relationship with Jesus is indeed most personal, it is always a part of the fuller plan of God. It is through the breaking of the bread – through the celebration of the Eucharist – that the Apostles recognized Jesus. The Eucharist and the other sacraments and indeed the totality of God’s revelation has been entrusted to the Catholic Church which Jesus established. This Church has been given an assurance of His constant care. Thus, it is through the Catholic Church that we can best come to Jesus and thus come to know, love and serve God now and be united with Him forever in heaven. Catechumens and candidates, the time between now and the Easter Vigil will pass quickly. Use this time well in prayer, fasting, sacrifice and study. What you are preparing for is more than a singular religious experience. You are preparing to make a radical commitment to Jesus through His holy Catholic Church. It is a commitment for life because Jesus established this Church to bring us eternal life, for He and He alone is our life and our salvation. I do want to congratulate each one of you, catechumens and candidates. You have taken the first major step. Continue forward. Be not afraid for the Lord is truly with you. Thus, along with my congratulations today, I also encourage you that once you are baptized or make your Profession of Faith, in fact, I challenge you to always live the fullness of our Catholic faith. May AlmightyGod bless you always. Most
Reverend Eusebius J. Beltran |