Archbishop José H. Gomez didn’t forget about the World Cup during the June 22 midday Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
“Sports are good,” he said. “But we can’t let sports distract us from the most important thing in our lives — the love of God, which is manifested in the Eucharist.”
The archbishop celebrated the Spanish-language Mass before a mostly-full cathedral on the Feast of Corpus Christi. After Mass, the archbishop led a short procession that ended with an hour of eucharistic adoration.
“Jesus Christ is present, body, blood, soul and divinity in Communion,” he said. “Jesus wants to have a true, personal encounter with each one of us.”
The archbishop stressed the immediacy of God through the Blessed Sacrament throughout his homily.
“All-powerful God, Creator of the universe, he wants to be with us, he wants to carry our burdens with us,” he said. “He wants to live so close to us that he gives us his body and his blood.”
The world hungers for God’s love and mercy, the archbishop said, and he gives it faithfully through the Eucharist. Through this sacrament, God makes his people one.
“We are a people of the Eucharist,” the archbishop said, “and we have to give the love we receive to our brothers and sisters, especially those most in need.”
Sometimes Mass goers will judge a Mass as good or bad depending on the music or the homily, but Christ is present in the Eucharist at every single Mass, he said. It’s like a family reunion around the altar.
“Jesus is beautiful,” the archbishop said. “He nourishes us through the Eucharist. Jesus Christ our Lord renews us in the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist.”
