Corpus Christi (C)

(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

Feast of Corpus Christi (C), June 2, 2013

Liturgical readings
Genesis 14:18-20
Psalm 110
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Luke 9:11-17

"Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and pronounced a blessing over the loaves."

The multiplication of the loaves is one gospel passage the Church refers to when she teaches about the Eucharist and the solemnity of Corpus Christi. This miracle story in the life of our Lord is not only in Luke 9:11-17 but has its gospel parallel in Matthew 14:13-21 and in Mark 6:30-44. There are distinct differences among the three versions of this miracle story. Theology can teach those differences. But for purposes of reflection, what can impress us among these three presentations of the miracle of the loaves, is what is common among the three gospel versions: the manner by which Christ fed the crowd

• 1 "he looked up to heaven"
• and 2 "blessed, broke and gave the loaves to his disciples", for distribution to the people.
• (The second quote contains the same words used in the Last Supper story, and also the same words spoken by the priest-presider during the consecration in the Mass).

Now, from Scriptural tradition, we go to traditional Catholic spirituality. And one classic reflection given by an important teacher of the Church is from St. Thomas Aquinas. St. Thomas of Aquinas wrote about the feast of Corpus Christi:

"He offered his body to God the Father on the altar
of the cross as a sacrifice for our reconciliation.
He shed his blood for our ransom and purification,
so that we might be redeemed from our wretched
state of bondage and cleansed from all sin. But
to ensure that the memory of so great a gift would
abide with us forever, he left his body as food
and his blood as drink for the faithful to consume
in the form of bread and wine."

The Body and Blood of the Lord is a sacrament of charity. It nourishes the soul and fills him with God's love - ennobling his human spirit to be aware beyond his usual routines, and see the people around him who not only lack the opportunity to be nourished in spirit, but also lack the means to purchase food and medicines. There are two ways to put this Sacrament of charity to practice: if pressed for time because of profession or business, he can donate to charitable causes; if time is abundant because of retirement, volunteering to any of the pastoral works of a parish or mission is making the Eucharist a force for good. We see that as the Body and Blood of Jesus is received in the Eucharist, the community that gathered makes that Body of Christ alive in the very circumstances they will be working and living. Just as Jesus multiplied the loaves, so the Eucharist multiplies the presence of Jesus for our time. Just as Jesus is the Bread of Life, the Eucharist makes us the bread of life for others as well.

Scripture quotes:

• "Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine...he blessed Abram." (Genesis 14)
• "Before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you." (Psalm 110)
• "The Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, and after he had given thanks, broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you.'" (1 Corinthians)

Disclaimer

Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ - Corpus Christi

First reading: Exodus 24:3-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 116
Second reading: Hebrews 9:11-15
Gospel reading: Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

"'Take this,' He said, 'this is My Body'".

From the gospel of Mark, we find a brief account of the Last
Supper. It begins with the scene wherein Jesus' disciples asked
their Master where He wished to celebrate the Passover supper.
Jesus gave His disciples instructions to go into the city, follow
a man carrying a water jar until he enters into a house, and then
ask the owner of the house for a guest-room for them to eat the
Passover meal. As the disciples followed Jesus' instructions,
they found it just as Jesus told them - and they were given an
upstairs room, spacious and all in order. It is in this upstairs
room where Jesus ate the Last Supper with His apostles. This
gospel passage of Mark reflects what we always hear in the Mass
as the bread and wine is consecrated:


"...He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
'Take this,' He said, 'this is My Body.' He likewise took a cup...
He said to them: 'This is my blood...to be poured out on behalf
of many'".

If we place ourselves in the shoes of the apostles, we would
probably not know or understand well what Jesus meant by this
action of His during the Last Supper. In the gospels, we are
always made aware that even the apostles of Jesus did not
understand what He was teaching or doing. They did not understand
the parables of Jesus unless Jesus explained it to them. This is
because Jesus speaks very deeply about the mystery of God, and the
life God has destined for us. And one of the deep mysteries in
which Jesus speaks about before His disciples, is the mystery of
His Body and Blood. This is the mystery and the miracle which we
witness everyday in the celebration of the Eucharist: the
transformation of the bread and wine into the Body and the Blood
of Christ Jesus - "Corpus Christi".

Just as our bodies need nourishment, so that we may obtain the
strength we need to work well, and be at the service of our
family, and our brothers and sisters in Christ, so too our soul
needs to be nourished with spiritual food. Jesus is our spiritual
food. He is the Bread that came down from Heaven. He who eats
this Bread will have eternal life. By the sacrifice of Jesus on
the Cross, He has given us His very self, so that when we eat and
drink His Body and Blood in the Eucharist, we shall also receive
the fruits of the Resurrection: new life, that leads to eternal
life, and communion with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.