Here is the text of Bishop Jaime Soto's homily on May 21, the memorial of the Mexican Martyrs, during Mass in St. Vincent Ferrer Church in Vallejo, at the start of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in the Diocese of Sacramento.
In the Gospel today, Jesus and his disciples began a journey through Galilee. We begin a journey with Jesus through the verdant Sacramento Valley, up the slopes of the Sierra Nevada, to the shores of pristine Lake Tahoe.
On this journey, Jesus will teach us about humility, the humble charity of the cross. The Lord Jesus is the Sacramentum Caritatis, the Sacrament of Charity, the incarnate mercy of the Father. He revealed the awesome divine mercy of the Father by humbly assuming our human nature and obediently became the last of all and the servant of all. His death on the cross was his prayer for us and his sacrifice for us. With his arms outstretched between heaven and earth, the Lord Jesus willingly surrendered himself to the Father for our sake. By dying he drew all of humanity nearer to God so that God might draw near to us.
In the Holy Eucharist, Jesus extends to us his hands pierced by the nails and opens up his most sacred heart, pierced by the soldier’s lance, so that through him we may draw near to God and God may draw near to us. In the Holy Communion, we receive into our hands the one who promised: “whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.” His humility offers us the door to divinity. He invites us to enter into his humility so that we may experience the unimaginable mercy of God.
Jesus invites us into the mystery of divine mercy revealed through the humble charity of the cross. Jesus humbled himself so that by his humility we may come to share in the divine mercy of the Father. Become what we receive. Learn the humility the Christ. In the Eucharist, humility becomes the gift. The humble humanity of Jesus brings us into the living merciful presence of the Father.
In the Eucharist, Jesus becomes the servant of all. Under the appearance of bread and wine, Jesus takes us to himself. Into our hands he places himself. Take and eat. This is my body given up for you. Take and drink. This is the chalice of my blood poured out for you and the many. His humble service brings us into communion with him. We come into communion with the Sacramentum Caritatis.
The Mexican Martyrs knew this. They sacrificed their lives for Cristo Rey (Christ the King) so that they too could become the Sacramentum Caritatis, the Sacrament of Charity. In humility they surrendered themselves so that the power of God’s wisdom and mercy might be revealed through them. By sharing in the humble sacrifice of Christ they came to share in his eternal glory. May their inspiration and intercession help us to do the same.
In photo above, Bishop Soto celebrates Mass in St. Vincent Ferrer Church in Vallejo on May 21. Bridgette Chestnut photo
To view photos of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage's journey through our diocese please visit the Diocese of Sacramento Facebook and Diocese of Sacramento Instagram accounts!