Vivat Jesus! May Jesus live! As Knights of Columbus we say or write these words often, but do we allow them to transform our lives? Do we invite Jesus to live in our hearts, our families, our community? In order for Jesus to live in our lives we need to give him space by building up a consistent prayer life, by regularly receiving the sacraments, and growing in virtue.
We are called, brother Knights, to be Knights of the Eucharist. This is what Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly called us to be, but we are called to the Eucharist simply by being Knights. Our charisms of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and even Patriotism, by their nature, flow from the Eucharist.
It is our love of God and his love for us that energizes and makes true our acts of charity, our unity and fraternity as Knights and should impel our acts of patriotism. You may recall from the film Mother Theresa: No Greater Love, Mother Theresa’s words, (paraphrased here) unless we see Christ in the Eucharist, we will not see him in the poor, and if we do not see him in the poor, in the suffering, in the abused and neglected, then we are just social workers. I don’t think it was Blessed Michael McGivney’s vision to created a band of social workers.
It was only a few weeks ago that we began the new Liturgical year with Advent, and ten days ago was the new year on the Gregorian calendar. It is not too late to make a new year’s resolution. I urge you brothers, to resolve to evolve, into true Knights of the Eucharist.
We have just celebrated two epiphanies. The first was Christmas when the Christ, Messiah, was revealed to the shepherds, the chosen people of God. The second was when Christ, the King of Kings, was revealed to the Magi, the gentiles. Pray to have your own epiphany. Pray to see Christ in your brothers, in the people we serve and most especially in the Eucharist.
“The need in the Church today, the need in the world, is of men among men who can rise higher, who can see further, who can strive more nobly than others. They need not be many, but through the few, they will rise and bring with them the whole of humanity.” Archbishop John Ireland. St Paul, MN 1888-1918
We can be those few, but only united to our Lord in the Eucharist.
Vivat Jesus