R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.
When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astonished.
They said, “Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?
And are not his sisters here with us?”
And they took offense at him.
Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and among his own kin and in his own house.”
So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,
apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith.

There are many beautiful prayers recorded in the Church, and one of my favorites – a portion of a version of the Stations of the Cross – goes, “Never permit me to be separated from You, O Lord, and then do with me as You will.” Powerful is the prayer to remain in communion with God! But to a God who remains faithful, why pray never to be separated at all?

The dismissal and the rejection of Jesus that we see in today’s Gospel from those who should have known Him best is an equally powerful reminder for us as faithful Catholics not to take for granted Jesus’s presence in our own lives. Indeed, to actively look for ways to withhold judgement on our brothers and sisters in Christ is to have faith in God who sends us to one another. Just maybe there is something that person has for us that is from God, and in dismissing them – “Oh, that person has nothing to offer …,” we have dismissed Jesus the way those in Nazareth did.

Arguably the greatest basketball player in the world – Michael Jordan – was rejected by his high school basketball team. Imagine! Michael Jordan was told by his coach that he was ordinary! He had nothing to offer! Thankfully the lack of willingness on that coach’s behalf to seek something great that was hidden did not deprive the world of Michael Jordan’s great talent as a basketball star!

I don’t like to be dismissed or rejected. Who among us does? Turn it around for a second, and imagine it was God dismissing us! God rejecting us! It is incomprehensible or else He never would have allowed His only son, Himself, to be nailed to the Cross. And as much as God wills to accept us, to welcome us with open arms, He also wills for us to receive Him with great enthusiasm in our prayers, in hearing His Word, and in His Sacraments, especially Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist.

And, too, Michael Jordan’s storied career in sport grew out a determination to grow beyond countless mistakes on his way to becoming the athlete we know him to be. Along our way to seeking Communion with Jesus, we too must grow beyond our mistakes, and seek reconciliation.

Our lifestyle and our morality should enthusiastically welcome Jesus so that He can perform mighty deeds in our presence! You and I have been commissioned as prophets by our Baptism, and if we welcome Jesus Christ in this way – in our prayers, in hearing His Word, and in His Sacraments – we will lead a lifestyle worthy of responding to the Communion that Jesus desires so deeply for us!

Let us continue this Liturgy in Communion with Christ and with one another, and let this be our prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God! Your death brought Life to the World. By Your Holy Body and Precious Blood, free me from my sins, and indeed free us from all that is evil. Never permit me to dismiss You. Never permit me to be separated from You, O Lord. And then do with me as You will.”

Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Jr., Rector, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica and Saint Anthony Parish.

As the LORD spoke to me, the spirit entered into me
and set me on my feet,
and I heard the one who was speaking say to me:
Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites,
rebels who have rebelled against me;
they and their ancestors have revolted against me to this very day.
Hard of face and obstinate of heart
are they to whom I am sending you.
But you shall say to them: Thus says the LORD GOD!
And whether they heed or resist—for they are a rebellious house—
they shall know that a prophet has been among them.

R. (2cd)  Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
To you I lift up my eyes
who are enthroned in heaven —
As the eyes of servants
are on the hands of their masters.
R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
As the eyes of a maid
are on the hands of her mistress,
So are our eyes on the LORD, our God,
till he have pity on us.
R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
Have pity on us, O LORD, have pity on us,
for we are more than sated with contempt;
our souls are more than sated
with the mockery of the arrogant,
with the contempt of the proud.
R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.

Brothers and sisters:
That I, Paul, might not become too elated,
because of the abundance of the revelations,
a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan,
to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.
Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me,
but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,
for power is made perfect in weakness.”
I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses,
in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.
Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults,
hardships, persecutions, and constraints,
for the sake of Christ;
for when I am weak, then I am strong.

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.