As we gather on this Memorial Day weekend, we pause to remember all those who have gone before us in defending and preserving our way of life. We especially remember those who gave the greatest sacrifice, their lives, for the sake of our safety and freedom. In a real sense we can call them our ancestors in democracy. Because of them the values of our country have been passed along through the generations.
            Over the past week or so at our daily Masses, the readings have likewise focused on our ancestry - specifically our ancestry of faith. And today’s readings for this Feast of Corpus Christi (The Body and Blood of Christ) continue that focus. For without those who have gone before us, we would never know n or enjoy the gifts of faith we now share.
            Our first reading from Genesis speaks to us of Abram who as you know became Abraham and the Father of faith in the Old Testament. Abraham was called by God and promised that He would be the Father of many nations – our very first ancestor of faith.
            In the second reading Paul, a true ancestor of our faith, is addressing the new Christians in Corinth and reminding them that  Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the last supper as  lasting memorial of His Mission as the Messiah.
            In the gospel reading we hear the story of the multiplication of the loaves and fish which prefigures and is forever connected with that same gift of the Eucharist.
            On this feast of the Eucharist, we celebrate a very tangible sign of what ancestry is all about. Jesus passes along His message and His sacrifice to all future generations. Do this in memory of me!
   And for each of us personally, I am sure there have been those in our lives who we could classify as our own ancestors of faith – parents, grandparents, teachers or others who have influenced our faith life.
            Today we take some time to honor them all, to give thanks and to be reminded of our own responsibility to become ancestors to future generations.