Sunday, June 23, 2025

Fr. Joe’s homily profoundly explored how food is an instrument of intimacy and friendship, a truth reflected in how God expresses His boundless intimacy through eating throughout the Bible. This culminates in the Eucharist, the ultimate evidence of intimacy with Jesus, an invitation extended to everyone for deep, interior transformation. We invite you to reflect on these powerful themes this week.

1. The homily emphasizes that food is not just for survival, but an "instrument of intimacy and friendship", helping us "build community, relationships, friendship". Think about a recent meal you shared with family, friends, or even acquaintances. How did that meal go beyond merely satisfying hunger and become an experience of connection, joy, or deeper intimacy?

Accompaniment Connection: Reflecting on our everyday experiences of sharing food helps us connect the sacred to the mundane. Accompaniment begins by recognizing the universal human experience of seeking connection, often found around a table, and gently invites us to see how God is already at work in these natural desires for intimacy. This helps us meet people where they are, using familiar experiences as a bridge to deeper spiritual truths, like God's desire for intimacy with us, which is a foundational part of God's loving invitation to us.

2. The homily highlights several biblical examples where God expresses His intimacy with His people through eating: from the rejection in Genesis, to the freedom celebrated at the Passover meal, Isaiah's prophecy of a future feast, and Jesus feeding the 5,000. Which of these examples resonates most deeply with you, and what does it reveal about God's persistent desire for relationship, even in difficult or challenging times?

Accompaniment Connection: People connect with different stories and experiences. By allowing ourselves to choose which example resonates most, we acknowledge their individual journey and perspective. This approach aligns with accompaniment, where we walk alongside individuals, honoring their starting point. The core message of God's love emphasizes God's consistent love and presence throughout salvation history; recognizing this in various biblical moments helps deepen one's understanding of God's unchanging nature and invitation, even through challenges, fostering trust in His enduring plan.

3. Most importantly, the homily states that the Eucharist is the "ultimate evidence of intimacy" with Jesus, where we "consume him body blood soul and divinity". It is where "Jesus makes himself present to us". How does understanding the Eucharist as an act of profound, personal intimacy, rather than just a ritual or obligation, change your participation or perception of Mass?

Accompaniment Connection: Many of us might view the Eucharist primarily as a duty or a symbol. This question gently challenges that perception, inviting a deeper, more personal encounter, which is central to God's call to new life in Christ. Accompaniment means inviting people to move beyond surface-level understanding to a transforming relationship. By focusing on intimacy, we help people connect emotionally and spiritually, fostering the "interior transformation" that Jesus desires.

4. The homily reminds us that at these sacred meals, "everyone is invited", including "saints and sinners", because "everyone's different and everyone's a mess". How can our parish community better reflect this radical invitation of Christ, ensuring that "everyone" truly feels welcomed to the table, regardless of their background, struggles, or doubts?

Accompaniment Connection: This question directly addresses the practical application of accompaniment within the parish community. God's invitation is for all, and true accompaniment requires actively creating spaces where all feel welcome and can encounter Christ. This encourages us to consider how they can be agents of accompaniment, extending God's inclusive love and invitation to others, recognizing that we are all on a journey and called to grow together in faith.

5. The homily concludes by noting that Jesus desires "interior transformation" and that for true intimacy, He "needs to go deeper than that". What is one area in your life where you feel Jesus is inviting you to a deeper, more intimate relationship, asking you to let Him "go deeper" for personal, interior transformation?

Accompaniment Connection: This question encourages personal introspection and invites us to see their faith as a journey of ongoing conversion, which is a key aspect of living out God's loving plan for us. Accompaniment respects individual pace and focuses on personal growth and transformation rather than external adherence. By inviting reflection on "deeper" relationship and "interior transformation," it aligns with the idea of meeting people where they are and gently guiding them towards a more profound encounter with Christ, fostering a continuous process of spiritual growth.