CORPUS CHRISTI: THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

6th June 2021

THE EUCHARIST IS THE SOURCE AND THE SUMMIT OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE

Exodus 24:3-8

Psalms 116

Hebrew 9:11-15

Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. This solemnity highlights the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharistic elements of bread and wine. It is our Catholic belief drawing from today’s gospel that Christ’s words - “Take; this is my body.”... “This is my blood of the covenant.” - changes the substance of the bread into the real Body of Christ and wine into the true Blood of Christ.

With today’s Solemnity we are reminded that The Eucharist is the source and the summit of our Christian life. But precisely how is the Eucharist the source of Christian spirituality? A closer look at the points below provides an answer to this question.

1. Eucharist: Source of our Salvation

   1. Words of the Eucharistic prayer, “Take this, all of you and drink form it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all men, so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.”

   2. Through the blood of Christ, sins are washed away/ we are cleansed/ we are protected

   3. Hebrews 9:22, "Indeed according to law almost everything is purified by blood and sins are forgiven only if blood is poured out.”

   4. Through the blood of Christ - Eucharistic celebration - we are saved.

   5. John 6:54, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life and I will raise them to life on the last day.”

2. Eucharist: a reminder that we must become a bread broken for others

   1. “He took bread and gave you thanks – he broke the bread, gave it to his disciples.”

   2. Jesus became a bread broken for us, he gave-up himself for us, he allowed the soldiers to whip, tore his beards, tore his clothes, strip him naked, crown him with thorns, and crucify him.

   3. We have got to emulate him. We have to be ready to become bread broken for others. We have to be ready to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others.

3. Eucharist reminds us of the great commandment of love

   1. John 13:34-35, “And now I give you a new commandment : love one another as I have loved you...if you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.”

   2. Jesus showed his disciples a great example of love during the Eucharistic meal by washing their feet.

   3. John 13:4, “He got up from the table, removed his outer garment and taking a towel, wrapped it round his waist.”

      1. We must be ready to remove our outer garment = pride, self-centredness, selfishness, among other vices.

      2. We must be ready to wrap the towel round our waist – to become slaves – servants to the others and not bosses/masters.

      3. We must be ready to wash each other’s feet = it’s a commandment! John13:14-15; “if I then, the Lord and master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.”

4. Eucharist reminds us that we must become what we eat and drink

   1. Shopenhaeaur: “We are and we become what we eat and drink.”

   2. There must be a difference between a Christian who receives the Eucharist, and one who does not.

5. Eucharistic invitation is extended to all

   1. “Take this all you.”

   2. It’s meant for all believers.

   3. Christ died for all humanity.

6. Eucharist is a sign of the unity of the church

   1. John 17:21, “May they all be one.”

   2. We receive from the same table of the lord; we receive the same body of Christ. Why then should there be divisions amongst us?

   3. Eucharist drives one to mend broken relationships and rebuild unity.

Christian life flows from the Eucharist as its source, the way light streams forth from the sun. And second, Christian life is supremely realized in and ordered to the Eucharist as its summit or highpoint – that to which all of our actions should ultimately be directed.