Father Michael Posted June 11, 2023 Share Posted June 11, 2023 (edited) June 11th, 2023 Feast of Corpus Christi: The Body and Blood of Christ A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Sharing Life with Christ” An Historical Perspective The feast of Corpus Christi dates to the thirteenth century. In 1246, bishop Thourotte, of Liege, Belgium, instituted it for his diocese at the urgent request of †Juliana, prioress of a convent on Mount Cornillon, near the gates of the city. A few years later, Pope Urban IV, a former archdeacon of Liege, extended its observance to the whole Church. This feast, with its annual processions of the Blessed Sacrament, enables Christians to proclaim not only their faith in the Real Presence, but also their gratitude to God for all the benefits they derive from this great Sacrament. The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is so intrinsic to the life of the Church, and the faithful, that from it, alone, earthly life draws its sustenance and finds continual expression. Through the Holy Mass, Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary—the ever-flowing spring of our Redemption—is made present by the Church on the altar, and offered to God, in union with Christ, Himself. Through Holy Communion an ever-closer union of the faithful with Christ is affected, together with the transformation of their lives by means of His. Having been born to a life of grace in the waters of Baptism, Christians receive the Holy Eucharist as heavenly bread. Reflections on Today’s Scripture (Deuteronomy 8:2-16) People are urged to remember they are God’s people, who need to nourish themselves by His Word. Remembering the good things that God has done in our lives will whet our “faith appetite, for Him, in times of doubt. The events of the Exodus became symbols of God’s constant care. In retrospect, the manna in the desert, became a foretaste of the Eucharistic Bread (the Body of Christ,) for early Christians. The water from the rock foreshadowed Baptism. Torah and manna became signs and tastes of God’s loving acts of providence. ~~~ (1 Corinthians 10:16-17) †Paul encapsulated the Eucharist as a sharing in the same bread, and so, however many we are, we form the one Mystical Body of Christ. †Paul counseled the believers at Corinth in regard to their social activities. Their every action was to be consistent with their commitment to Christ. As such, they were to be cautious about giving scandal to others by their behavior. Borrowing language from the Passover Meal (the Seder,) he described the Holy Eucharist as the “blessing cup” of fellowship in the Mystical Body. ~~~ (John 6:51-58) As food and drink nourish the body, so Christ nourishes us for this life and eternal life to come. A new alliance between God and humankind grew out of the gift of Jesus’ flesh and blood. Jesus’ very special revelation about His Body and Blood, as food and drink, meant to be a source of unity for the Church, is also, at times, a cause of contention among Christians. †John portrays Jesus and His sacrificial death as the divine replacement for the Passover Lamb. The Bread of Life Humans experience many kinds of hunger. We need ordinary “bread,” of course—a basic necessity (after water.) But bread nourishes only “half” of us—our physical side. We also have a spiritual side that cries out for nourishment. In the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we are nourished, first with God’s Word—a “spiritual food,” that comforts, guides, inspires and challenges us. Then, we receive the “food of eternal life” in the Blessed Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. In the Eucharistic Banquet, we receive nourishment for our minds, hearts and spirits. Therein, we experience the abiding presence of Christ within us. He is not merely a “vague memory” of a Person Who lived long ago, as some evangelicals profess, but as a real, life-giving presence that transforms us. By consuming the food of the Eucharist, we receive Christ into our very bodies, and are imbued with His Spirit, with which we are able to nurture others. The Bread we receive at Holy Communion gives us strength to follow Christ. In response to our needs, Jesus nourishes us in so many ways. “Transubstantiation,” the Real Presence of Christ—Body, Soul and Divinity—in the Blessed Sacrament, becomes perplexing only when we lose our sense of His presence in all of creation. Those with a deep sense of the existence of God in everything, will not have great difficulty believing He is present in a very special way in the Holy Eucharist. God alone can satisfy all the longings and hungers of our hearts, because He, alone, can give us the “bread of eternal life.” The Body of Christ When I consider a loaf of bread, (or, for that matter, any “finished” product,) I’m oftentimes taken aback when I contemplate all that went into its coming into being. As creatures who understand the concept of “objective reality,” we know that many component parts and processes are required to develop anything that exists. Bread is one thing that is particularly fascinating. (It’s history, as a dietary staple, dates as far back as civilization, itself—perhaps, 30,000 years!) Many agents contribute to its making, including: soil, in which the seed of the grain is nurtured; sunlight, to promote the process of germination and growth; moisture, from rain, enabling nutrients to be absorbed into the plant; labor, performed by people that harvest and process the crop; millers, that make it into flour; and finally, artisans, who skillfully combine all the ingredients for baking. We normally don’t consider all these steps when we see all the many varieties of loaves arrayed on the shelf at the store. But if only one component of the process were to be omitted, bread could not exist! Then, too, we must consider God’s part in the process—to Whom we give thanks, and without Whom nothing of this would be possible. At the Offertory of the Holy Mass, this is beautifully expressed: “Blessed are You, Lord, God of all creation. Through Your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.” In today’s Second Reading, we heard †Paul utilize a loaf of bread as a metaphor for our unity in Christ. Once, we were separated from one another, like grains of wheat, but when we gather together for worship, we form the Mystical Body of Christ—the Church. This is an even greater miracle than a loaf of bread! As “one body,” we become living witnesses to God’s desire to bring all peoples and nations together into one family. We become the “Body of Christ,” made visible…. As “one family,” we experience the warmth of community—in an atmosphere of love. Therein, we rise above shyness, coldness and indifference—things that prevent our unity. So, when we leave Church to become part of the milieu of humanity, we must not forget to take the warmth and love of “community” with us, out into the world. May God Richly Bless You! In the Bread, Broken.docx To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here: Edited June 11, 2023 by Father Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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