Homily for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The truth of our faith has transformed ordinary sinners into extraordinary saints throughout Church history, as demonstrated by the life and death of St. Tarsicius. In 257, St. Tarsicius met his death on the Appian Way in Rome, becoming a victim of one of the most lethal waves of persecution to happen to the expanding Church.

Malicious tales at the time falsely accused Christians of cannibalism and other horrible practices, labeling believers as the Roman Empire's enemies, punishable by torture and death.

The faithful had to gather secretly to celebrate the Mass. The prisons swelled with Christians awaiting trial and execution. Isolated, terrorized with torture, and overwhelmed by the steady stream of martyrdoms, many of these prisoners lost courage, abandoning the faith to save their lives.

So, local pastors sent deacons and acolytes on the difficult mission of bringing the Blessed Sacrament to strengthen imprisoned Christians. The teenager Tarsicius was among them.

Tarsicius was stopped by a group of Roman soldiers during such a mission. They realized what he was doing and ordered him to hand over the Blessed Sacrament. He refused, knowing they only wanted to defile it. The soldiers became forceful; Tarsicius would not give in. They began to launch sticks at him; still, he clutched the Blessed Sacrament.

They took pavement stones and threw them down upon him until he died. When they seized his body to take the Blessed Sacrament, they found no sign of the Hosts he had been carrying; Tarsicius had fulfilled his mission.

St. Tarsicius risked his life because he knew that his fellow Christians needed food for their souls, or they would tire in their struggle to keep the faith. Jesus knows we can't win this struggle alone, so He goes with us through the Eucharist.

Through the incarnation, Jesus, the Word of God, reduced Himself to our level out of love by taking on our human nature. In the celebration and reception of the Eucharist, He raises us to His level, nourishing us with His Body and Blood.

The Eucharist is the sacrament of Christ's love, but His expression of love goes even further. Jesus offers Himself as food for our souls in Holy Communion, nourishing and replenishing all the virtues we need to resist temptation and continue in the battle for the Kingdom. He stays with us always.

After Mass, we reserve the remaining consecrated Hosts in the Tabernacle so we can pray in Jesus' physical presence throughout the week and take the Blessed Sacrament to the sick and elderly who cannot be with us for our Sunday celebration.

Jesus stays with us. He wants to be with us whenever we need Him. When we turn to Him, He gives us light, strength, comfort, and guidance.

Jesus Christ, God himself, not only inhabited Palestine centuries ago, but He literally dwells in every city, town, and neighborhood today, bringing the life of heaven into every person in every corner of the earth.

As we continue with this celebration of the Eucharist, let us thank Him for not abandoning us, and when we receive the Living Bread today, let's promise that we will never abandon Him.