I returned home last night from NCYC 2007. What a trip! It’s terrific to see the young church SO alive and in love with Christ.

Saturday night, we celebrated the Closing Liturgy with 20,000 really reverent young people. While praying in thanksgiving after Communion I looked around the arena. This multitude would be countless to me if it weren’t for published statistics about the arena. I was suddenly overwhelmed by the fact that Jesus was filling this huge space. Big Jesus. Then came the realization that this multitude was a ridiculously small fraction of Catholics (about 0.002% if I did my math right). Wow Jesus is big. Every hour of every day, Jesus substantially fills the world with His presence in the Eucharist.

Further contemplation of this mystery reveals that it can’t end there. As we who believe in the true presence of Christ become mobile tabernacles after every Mass, are we bringing that big Jesus into the world with us? Are we compassionate to strangers? Are we willing to take up our crosses and fight for justice for the oppressed? Are we ashamed to stand up for Christ?

I’ve talked a lot about coming down from the mountain with all of the momentum focused on sharing God’s love. If heaven kissing earth at the Sacrifice of the Mass isn’t the highest mountain you can find, pray that it will be. Then share.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Veronica Gantt.

A quick couple of shouts-out to the Parishes of St. Paul in Damascus, Maryland and St. Peter Celestine in Cherry Hill, NJ. I’ll be at each of these parishes this weekend. I’m looking forward to meeting and sharing with them. If you are in those communities, I hope to see you there! See the schedule (on the right side of the web site) for more details.