SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST - (Corpus Christi) Yr B. June 2, 2024
Readings
1st: Exodus 24:3-8
2nd: Hebrews 9:11-15
Gospel: Mark 14:12-16, 22-26
Theme: Be what you eat, in words and in works/deeds
My dear people of God, today Mother Church celebrates, with great joy and deep gratitude, the gift of the Most Holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ as Food for the pilgrim. Our reflections would focus on the Theme. "Truly, truly I say to you; Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you shall have no life in you. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood, has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:48ff). Here we have the promise of a mysterious Bread which was not only to nourish our souls, but also to guarantee an eternal redemption here after. This promise is expressed eloquently in terms and with an insistance which left no doubt as to the earnest and generous purpose of our Blessed Savior. At the last Supper, the apostles, who represented the future church and, in fact, her leadership, heard, saw and experienced the fulfilment of that extraordinary promise, "And while they were at Supper, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to His disciples and said, 'Take and eat, this is my Body'. And taking a cup, He gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'All of you, drink of this; for this is My blood of the new covenant which is being shed for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:26-29). "Do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19). Since that memorable day, whenever a priest, celebrating the Holy Mass, takes a piece of bread in his hands and, as vicar of Christ says, "This is My body", then the greatest of miracles is renewed and re-enacted, the living bread comes down from heaven, and Jesus, through it, feeds our souls, bringing them new strength, increased joy and a closer union with him. "I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the desert, and have died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that if anyone eat of it he will not die" (John 6:48ff). How our Lord wishes to see his true followers long eagerly to attend and participate in this Holy banquet (Holy Mass)! We thank God and draw great inspiration from those followers of Christ who rank attending Daily Mass first on their routines and allow it to occupy the highest place in their life.
The parable of the Wedding Feast (Luke 14:15-24), although it refers directly to an invitation to share in the blessings of God's Kingdom, is however, a striking symbol of the Holy Eucharistic Banquet and of the sheer indifference of the many invited guests. The meal, prepared at a very great cost, the sacrifice of the only Lamb, was evidently not appreciated by those who were privileged to be invited to partake of it. Each of them, like you and I, found an excuse for turning down the invitation. Often, the things that distract and impede our desire to honor the undeserving daily invitation to the Wedding Feast (Holy Mass) are not bad in themselves but they prevent us from the experience of better opportunities and privileges. There can never be an enemy worse than our second best. Matthew's version of the Wedding Feast (22:14) features a guest who, pictorilly, was violently "bundled" out at the instructions of the "Host King" because he (the guest) was found to be in the wrong "garments". Comic critics disagree with the "Host" on the simple grounds that the guest, according to Matthew, was "summoned" unprepared. Another school of thought also argue that one cannot come to a "Eucharistic Banquet", the type hosted by Christ, and remain in the past, conspicuously different. A true Wedding Feast MUST have a prescribed outfit (wear). "If you go to Rome, you must do what Romans do". A dual life-style, (I do what I like) no matter how justifiable, can never be a Christian virtue. The Christian understanding of "choice" means ONE, not both/two. A number of questions come up here: What is the place of Holy Mass in my life? What are some of the filmsy excuses (reasons) that I always use not to attend Holy Mass, even on Sunday? What is my personal reason for not participating directly in Holy Communion? How comfortable am I, living in such an isolated state?
I should be what I eat in words and in works/deeds. People should be what they eat. In other words, an orange must smell like the tree. When the Vicar of Christ (Eucharistic Minister), raises that small piece of Consecrated Bread and says, The body of Christ and I consent, Amen, what does that mean to me? I cannot carry Christ in me and, in words and deeds, be an anti-Christ. What did Christ use his hands to do during his public life and ministry? He touched the sick and restored them to health, even the dead to life. Where did his feet carry him to? What thoughts did he nurture and what was the quality of words that passed through his lips? What was His attitude towards the labelled, marginalised, discriminated and voiceless? When sending the 12, and later the 72, Jesus asked them to preach peace and heal the sick but he never gave them any drug/herb. What does that mean to me? When a practising Christian speaks lisnteners should hear and find new meaning of life. Do I leave people better or worse after contact with them? Be what you eat, in words and in works/deeds. A true Christian is sent not only to inform but also to transform. If I cannot add, at least, I should not subtract, if I cannot inform and/or transform, I should not deform and defame. As you attend and participate in the "Wedding Feast", of which Jesus (in His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity) doubles as the Host/Priest and the Lamb, I pray you endeavor to remain another Christ. Be what you eat, in words and in deeds". Continue to recite the Holy Rosary daily. God richly bless you and your family.
Rev. Fr. Thomas L. Debuo, Catholic Diocese of Damongo, Ghana. (0244511306/0243711926)