Readings
I - Gen. 14: 18-20
II - 1 Cor. 11: 23-26
III - Lk. 9: 11-17
THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (Solemnity)
Today the Church solemnises the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ - Corpus Christi. The solemnity highlights the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. The feast also signifies the continual presence of Jesus with us whenever we celebrate the Eucharist until he comes again in His glory.
The first reading is about Melchizedek, priest of God most high, offering bread and wine to Abram and the Gospel passage is about Jesus feeding the multitude. Jesus, considered a priest in the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 7: 17), feeding the multitude is the prefiguration of giving himself to his people as food and drink. Material food besides nourishing the person, becomes part of that person who consumes it. It restores energy and gives strength to pursue the earthly journey. The Eucharist, the body and blood of Christ, on the other hand nourishes both body and soul in the pursuit of our heavenward journey besides making us another Christ in this world.
The solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ is a call to continual conversion to holiness. The Eucharist gives us the power to combat all that is not of God in us so as to become another Christ in the world to lead all around us to God in and through Jesus Christ. Let this solemnity inspire us to receive the body and blood of the Lord consciously so as to pursue our Christian living with credibility. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Thank you Lord Jesus for the gift of your body and blood to us”.
