Sermon from this year's Chrism Mass

Each year, the priests in the Archdiocese of Mobile gather with the archbishop in the cathedral for the Chrism Mass when the oils used in worship are blessed and consecrated. Here is Archbishop Rodi’s sermon from this year’s Chrism Mass celebrated on March 29.
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Each year I look forward to the celebration of the annual Chrism Mass which includes the consecration and blessing of the oils and the renewal of commitment to ordained priestly ministry, but no more so than this year. Last year the pandemic prevented the priests and a congregation from attending. Thank God Mass this year looks a little more familiar.
These past 12 months have been difficult and challenging. Yet, we are little by little recovering some of the normalcy of daily life. For many, this includes the return to Mass. I pray all will soon return to the Lord’s House and gather at the Lord’s tables of Word and Eucharist.
Some weeks ago I read an article written by a non-Catholic minister. The topic of the article was how to encourage people to come back to church services after the pandemic. The topic immediately caught my interest. However, in the first few sentences the author said that his article was not for Catholics. I was already interested in reading the article, now I was determined to do so.
The article was very well written. This non-Catholic minster asked the question: How do we articulate to our people a reason to return to church after watching church services on TV or live-streamed for a year? He said that Christians believe in the Word of God. But God’s Word can be shared on TV as easily as in person. He also went on to state that many Christian churches have been successful in broadcasting church services in a way that is engaging and appealing; so much so, that the TV presentations have bled back into church services so that now what is offered on TV and is the same thing as what is offered in the churches. So, he asked, why come back to church when the Word of God and the church services can be received live-streamed or on TV?
Then he explained his statement that his article was not for Catholics. He stated that Catholics are different since they have a belief in the Word of God and also a belief in the Sacrament. He said that the only way to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist was to be physically present in church. The Catholics, he said, have an articulation of why to return to church, but what about the rest of us, he asked. What is our articulation for a reason to come back after the pandemic?
This non-Catholic minister is right, we Catholics have a reason why to return to Mass, but only if we believe that the Eucharist is real, that it is worth coming back to receive.
The belief in the Real Presence is the unbroken and constant teaching of the Catholic Church for 2,000 years. We believe that the bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Christ because Christ said so. If we believe this, then we know we are called to join with the family of God around the family table, the altar.
At the Last Supper Jesus told His disciples how to worship God. Of all the things He could have commanded that evening, He commanded that God be worshipped by having a meal. Why a meal? We could come up with many answers, but allow me to give but one: food brings us together. No matter how often we drive up by ourselves to the drive-up window of a fast food restaurant, that is not the way we truly wish to eat. When we eat, we want others with us. I have yet to go into the school cafeteria and meet a student who wishes to eat at the table by themselves. They want their friends around them. 
I was speaking one time with a man who travels a lot because of his business. I asked him what was the worst thing about travelling so much. Without hesitation he replied that it was eating in a restaurant in the evening by himself. He missed his family most of all when he ate alone. Food brings us together.
I thank our priests who live-streamed their Masses during the pandemic. You are a blessing for doing this. It was necessary and it will continue to be of benefit for those unable to attend Mass, but it is not how we are called to worship God. Watching the family of God on TV or on a computer screen celebrate the Eucharist is like having a virtual Thanksgiving meal, which many were forced to have last November. Something is missing. Just as Thanksgiving was not the same when we watched our loved ones eat their food without us, so it is not the same to watch the Mass without being there.
Unlike many Christians who belong to various denominations, our Catholic faith is communal. All of the sacraments of the Church must be celebrated with other members of the Church. None are merely personal. Even belief in the Word of God is communal. Reading Scripture by ourselves can result in misunderstanding the Bible. We need the community of the Church to guide us in the 2,000-year-old understanding of the Bible which has been handed on to us.
Does Jesus desire a personal relationship with us? Absolutely, yes, and more. He also wishes us to be part of His family. He wishes for us to gather together and to be active members of the family of God, which is the parish.
We have now undertaken two first-time endeavors in our Archdiocese: The Generations of Faith Campaign and The Year of the Eucharist and the Parish. 
I was motivated to have the Campaign both by a genuine need of the Archdiocese, and also because I had read too many blogs by people who said that they and others were fed up with church scandals and were leaving the family of God. I was confident that in our Archdiocese there were many who love the Church and love their priests. This Campaign for retired priests, seminarians and young people was an instrument which allowed people to show their love for God, the Church and our priests. And our people responded most generously, pledging 123% of the goal. This was $36.8 million to care for our retired priests and to educate more priests. Fathers, don’t ever doubt that people appreciate you and your ministry.
The Year of the Eucharist and the Parish is also a blessing to our people. The non-Catholic minister I referred to at the beginning of this sermon was right: we Catholics have a reason why we should return to Mass. This Year of the Eucharist AND the Parish presents the opportunity to remind our people that the Eucharist is real: The Body and Blood of Jesus. And to remind our people that we are called to gather together to receive the Eucharist and to live the Eucharist by being involved in the life of the parish.
Sometimes I am asked if I hope that Mass attendance at our parishes will return to pre-pandemic levels. No I don’t. Instead, I dare to hope and pray that Mass attendance will end up being even greater than pre-pandemic levels. If we allow God to use this Year of the Eucharist and the Parish as His instrument of grace, I am confident this will happen. I urge you to find ways to observe this Year in your parishes.
My brother priests, thank you. During these past 12 trying months, even despite the 6-week pause of public Masses, you kept alive the ministry of the Church. Our churches remained open for prayer. Masses were celebrated, often live-streamed. The Eucharist was distributed to the sick. Eucharist was distributed in front of churches. Confessions were heard. The sick were anointed. The dead were buried. Baptisms, Confirmations, Weddings and even Ordinations were celebrated. The poor were assisted. Catholic Social Services never closed, even though there were some charities that did close. The faith was taught. Our Catholic schools immediately provided distance learning last March, and then have been open throughout this school year beginning on August 12, 2020. 
I praise God for your ordained ministry. You have been outstanding. You are a blessing to our people and certainly to me. I pray for each one of you. May God bless you.