Corpus Christi
Some years ago I visited the Holy Land, and one day I found myself near the lake of Galilee in the Church of the Loafs and the Fishes, a church that reminded me of today’s feast, the body and blood of Christ. From a visitor or pilgrim, who lives in Corpus Christi, U.S.A, I received at the church a small bowl or plate with the loafs' and fishes' decoration, a beautiful gift which I use every time I celebrate Mass. On it I place the bread, and in the chalice, a gift from my family at my ordination, 51 years ago, I pour the wine, and I say the words of Jesus: "This is my Body, this is my Blood. Do this in memory of me". The separate species of bread and wine is an indication of the Passion and death of Christ, giving his life as a sacrifice for all of us. The bread and wine as a sacrament of our sustenance we need as food on our journey through life, but also as bond or communion to keep the community of believers together.
Last year I baptised a little baby, Melissa, born in the image of God, and received in the Body of Christ, the mystical Body of Christ, the band of followers who are bonded together at Baptism. In this sacrament we received the seed of new life and we were entitled to receive the Eucharist, which is needed to let that new life, that new faith grow within us. With the help of parents, friends, parishioners we carry the Body of Christ on our hands, by our lives, to others. We keep the Body of Christ, his community, alive, through our love and care for each other.
We also celebrate our togetherness by prayer, (where two or more are together.) by sacraments of reconciliation, Eucharist and Anointing That way we are the Body of Christ. We are the hands that reach out to others in need. We are the feet that walk with others to their destiny. We are the hearts that beat in compassion for the poor. We are bread and wine for each other.
One day I visited Neil, a friend in Johnsonvale home, anointed him gave him communion and blessed him. On Friday before this operation I bid him farewell and he died a couple of hours later, very peacefully. Here was a convert, a member of the Body of Christ, who is joined now with Christ at his heavenly banquet. This was his homecoming, his liberating journey. I was blessed and privileged to see his tears of joy after he received the body of Christ.
In sharing the Body of Christ, this transforming food, we are drawn closer to one another on our journey of faith, like the manna to the Israelites in the wilderness. That food was not merely designed to satisfy their hunger but also to show them they depended on God’s guidance on their journey through the desert. Through the Eucharist we become one with Christ and with each other. We share one bread, one faith, one life in Christ.
Every year we come together to celebrate the feast of the Body of Christ, to celebrate our faith in this Christ, the living bread, as alive for us. In that way you form a community around this altar, and you are nourished for the week to grow in that community.
A parish-community of baptised, that is alive because they look after each other in their communal needs, grows towards the Eucharist. If a priest is available (in the future not weekly) they are able to celebrate that growing in Christ at Mass.
This leaves me with three questions for you:
Do you form or are part of a community of believers living out the Gospel love?
Are you part of the Body of Christ, his arms, feet and heart?
Do you "love" that Body in memory of Christ, i.e. are you Eucharist?
Let us thank the Lord to eat the body of Christ and be the body of Christ
on our way to eternal life.
God bless,
John
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