First Communion
Homily 2016
Beauty From Within
A while
back I was spending some days in prayer in a house run by some nuns. It was a
beautiful place, and the nuns themselves were so wonderful and kind. One nun,
in particular, was strikingly beautiful – rosy cheeks, twinkling eyes, always with
a smile on her lips. After a few days I asked her what her name was. “Sister
Felicity,” she replied. I said, “That’s such a perfect name for you, because Felicity means happiness, and you have such a happy face.”
“I
wouldn’t know,” she said.
“What do you mean, you wouldn’t
know?”
“I haven’t seen my face in
fifteen years.”
I was
shocked. “Fifteen years?”
She looked
embarrassed. “I don’t have a mirror in my room or bathroom.”
Here was
this woman, so beautiful – and she had no idea that she was radiant. Her beauty
didn’t come from spending hours in front of the mirror, using expensive creams,
or wearing nice clothes. She simply loved Jesus deeply – and that made her beautiful.
Some of
you have showed me your really nice clothes this morning. And you all do look
great! New suit or dress, white gloves, combing your hair – you all really put
a lot into looking good for this special occasion. But that’s not where your
true beauty comes from. True beauty comes from Jesus living within a pure soul.
And today, your pure souls are about to receive Jesus Christ in the Eucharist!
Think
about it – if you have joy, if you have peace, if you know that you are loved,
then you will show it on your face. It will be obvious to everyone around you.
And Jesus is the only one who can offer true joy, lasting peace, and infinite
love.
Seek to
make your soul beautiful, then, to be a fit dwelling place for the King of
Kings. When we have a guest coming over to our house, we always clean up – we vacuum
the floor, we make our beds, we take out the trash. Likewise, we should always
keep our souls clean and pure, free from sin, so that every time we receive
Jesus as a guest in Holy Communion, He will find a warm welcome and a place
that He can live, in our souls.
And when
He comes to live in your soul in Holy Communion, He brings those gifts of love,
peace, and joy. If you ever feel alone, think of the Eucharist – Jesus is with
you. If you ever feel unloved, think of the Eucharist – Jesus desperately wants
to love you, so He remains with us in Holy Communion. If you ever feel sad,
think of the Eucharist – Jesus brings joy to all those who receive Him. If you
ever feel hopeless, think of the Eucharist – Jesus is our hope for everlasting
life.
One
final saint story for you all! Blessed Imelda Lambertini, as a young girl, was
abandoned by her mother, who put her in a basket as a baby on the steps of a
local convent of nuns. So as a young girl, she was raised by these holy women.
She had an overwhelming desire to receive Holy Communion, although the nuns
told her she had to be older to receive Jesus. Finally one day, when she was
about ten years old, she was in the back of Mass praying, hungering for the
Eucharist. As the priest was giving out the Eucharist, one of the Hosts rose up
on its own and flew through the air until it hovered over Imelda’s head. The
priest was so amazed that he decided to give her Communion! She received
Communion with great joy and closed her eyes to pray to Jesus, now present
within her.
Well,
Mass ended and time passed, and everyone went on their business. Three hours,
then four hours went by, and the nuns didn’t know where she was. They looked
all over – finally, they found her in the church, still kneeling with eyes
closed and a smile on her face. They went to go rouse her from her prayers, but
as they shook her, they found that she had died of joy upon receiving her first
Holy Communion!
I
certainly hope that none of you die of joy when you receive First Communion…but
I do pray that you have the same hunger for Jesus that Blessed Imelda had.
Receive Him often with a pure soul – and you will find all of the happiness
that you are looking for.
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