Corpus Christi
June 2, 2013
Year of Faith
First Reading: Genesis 14:18-20
Psalm110:1, 2, 3, 4
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Gospel Reading: Luke 9:11-17
Today’s celebration of
the Sacred Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ (or Corpus Christi) is very
important reminder in our Christian life and faith; for we received from the
Lord himself this memorial of his suffering and death for our sake until he
comes again in his glory. This exchange
of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in the Eucharistic
celebration of the Mass, as we do every day throughout the whole world, at the
altar of sacrifice, is a banquet we partake and God shares – this love to all
humanity. It is the grace of God’s love
to men and women, and our praise and thanksgiving to God in return for the
blessing He gives to us. It is also the
greatest sacrifice God can make to us by offering His only begotten Son as a lamb
to be slaughtered for the remission of sin and reconciliation with Him, as food
we eat and drink, and nourish our body and soul. This sacrifice, as we celebrate every day which
institution we commemorated on the evening of Holy Thursday and concluded on
the Passover festivities, however, are again inviting us to a particular and solemn
celebration of this holy Sacrament, which synthesizes the life of our Lord and
the fruit (Tree of Life) of our redemption.
In St. Paul’s Letter to
the Corinthians said, “The Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took
bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you’.” (1 Cor. 11:23-24) . . . “In the same way also the cup, after supper,
saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in
my blood’.” (1 Cor. 11:25). Also,
twice Jesus said, as St. Paul narrated, “Do
this in remembrance of me” (1
Corinthians 11:24, 25). Then, St.
Paul concluded, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you
proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
Therefore, it is constant reminder for all of us, this celebration of
the Eucharist until Jesus comes again. The
mystery of the Eucharist has given us many counsels, for example, (a) it is a
memorial of the passion, (b) is feast of unity, and (c) it is anticipation of
the divine banquet which we share with Christ in the future life (in heaven).
Thus, we need not just waiting and looking up in the sky for something to fall. One thing, nevertheless, I/we can be sure of is
that the Spirit of Truth that dwells among us will be our relentless guide, our
constant reminder, and always announcing to us this memorial of the outpouring
of the love of the Father and of the Son to us, and to the next generations to
come, in participating in this Eucharist.
The Sacred Body and
Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ given to us, we eat and drink, though, is not a
reward or merit or prize we deserved for the goodness we have done towards Him,
but rather it is due to the mercy of God towards us. Jesus’ sacrifice by pouring out his blood and
his body was crucified are due to his eternal love for us, for this is what he
was speaking the crowds about the Reign-Kingdom of God. (cf. Luke 9:11).
In a similar way, Jesus
is inviting us to offer ourselves and all that we have for others, especially
to our loved ones, as part of our participation on the love He shown to
us. Jesus’ heart was troubled because of
the condition of the crowds, and our conditions, that is why “he healed those who needed to be cured”
(Luke 9:11); they were like sheep without a shepherd for they were hungry,
thirsty and lost; as compared to his twelve disciples telling Jesus to dismiss
and send them out and find for their own food.
The same command is telling to us by Jesus as he told his apostles:
“Give them some food yourselves” (Luke 9:11); that is to say, give them
something to eat from your own baon,
although the disciples knew that there were not enough food for 5000 hungry
men, women and children, to share their five loaves of bread and two fishes.
(see Luke 9:13-14). Nevertheless, in
some gospel text, these bread and fishes came from a small boy (or a slave?). The disciples also have nothing to do with
the crowd and even careless to these people following Jesus the Christ. Jesus, because of his loving heart, made a
marvelous miracle in front of his disciples by multiplying the bread and fish, “Then taking the five loaves and the two
fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and
gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd” (Luke 9:16), and all of
them were satisfied and there were many as twelve baskets full of leftover fragments
of bread and fishes. (see Luke 9:17).
Finally, as Christians,
we too must be bread broken and multiplies, bread that is made accessible to
any hungry and lost brothers and sisters, bread that gives of life, bread that
unites and reconciles others, bread that satisfies hunger – agape bread. Also, as
Christians, we must be good wine, the best grape crops, press from the labor of
hands and feet and drink in cup to satisfy thirsty men and women, young and
old, so that all who drink in us will experience the saving power of the Lord
in us; and no more hunger or thirst and even death because of this sharing and
giving and sensitiveness towards all.
Question(s) for
Reflection:
1. Are you bread broken and distributed to
satisfy hunger of many?
2. Are you wine pressed and shared to satisfy
thirst of others?
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