SOLEMNITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, YEAR A

Deuteronomy 8:2-3.14-16

Psalm 147

1 Corinthians 10:16-17

John 6:51-52

THE EUCHARIST: A TABLE OF COMMUNION AND FRIENDSHIP

We celebrate today the solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the mystery of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the species of bread and wine. In the gospel reading, Jesus declares to the Jews that he is the bread that came down from heaven for the life of the world. Unless we eat his flesh and drink his blood, we have no life in us, for his flesh is real food and his blood is real drink. Again, “whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him,” he says. In other words, any time we receive the Holy Communion, we receive Jesus himself and we enter into a life-giving relationship with him, a relationship that extends to all those we share in the Eucharist with.

According to St Paul in the second reading, the cup of blessing that we bless is the participation in the Blood of Christ; the bread that we break is the communion in the Body of Christ. Many though we are, we form one body because we partake in the same one Bread. Though each of us partakes in the Eucharist with his or her own personality and story, we become one in Christ. We are united with him and with one another.

This is the mystery we celebrate at every Mass. As we come together to celebrate the Eucharist, the bond that unites us with the Lord and with one another is strengthened. Like the people of Israel in their journey through the wilderness, our journey of faith with all its trials, thirst and hunger, becomes a shared experience; and in the Eucharist, the Lord comes to nourish and strengthen us for this journey.

Today’s feast reminds us therefore of the fellowship, fraternal love, warmth and solidarity that must characterize our Christian communities. In this respect, it would not be right to partake in the Eucharist or to receive Christ with hearts full of hatred, resentments, bitterness, jealousy, unforgiveness and evil thoughts towards others. Let us become what we celebrate and thrive day by day to become signs of Christ’s presence in the world. May he bless and keep all of us. Amen

Happy Feast to you all !!!