Homily (Reflection) for the Solemnity of
The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year C (29th May, 2016) on
the Gospel and the Solemnity
Gen 14:18-20;
Ps 109:1-4. (R. v. 4);1Cor 11:23-26;
Lk 9:11-17.
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body
and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) originated in France and was extended to
the whole Church by Pope Urban IV in 1264. It is celebrated on the Thursday
following the Trinity Sunday or on the following Sunday where this Solemnity is
not a holyday of obligation.[1]
The primary purpose of this feast is to focus our attention on the Eucharist. And
secondary upon the Body of Christ as it is present in the Church. The Church is
called the Body of Christ because of the intimate communion which Jesus shares
with his disciples. This Feast is accompanied with public Eucharistic
processions, which serve as sign of common faith and adoration.[2]
However, this procession takes place on the last Sunday of the year, Solemnity
of Christ the King, in regions where this period of the year is within the rainy
season.
Topic: Deficiency to superfluous.
Jesus welcomed the crowd who
followed Him. He taught them and also healed those who needed to be cured. As
the day was drawing to a close, His disciples came up with this suggestion,
“Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and
countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.”
But Jesus insisted, “You give them something to eat.” They were astonished and said,
“We had no more than five loaves and two fish – unless we are to go and buy
food for all these people.” They were about five thousand men. He made them sit
in groups of about fifty each. Jesus then took the five loaves and the two
fish, looked up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and then gave them to the
disciples to share to them. In the end, “...all ate and were filled. What was
left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.”
Beyond the multiplication of loaves and fish as we see in
today’s gospel, Christ gave us His true Body and Blood for He said, “Take, eat;
this is my body” (Matt 26:26; Mk 14:22;
Lk 22:19; 1Cor 11:24). He also said while giving us the chalice, “Drink
from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out
for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matt
26:27b-28; Mk 14:24). He offered these for our salvation, cf. Jn 10:11; 1Pt 2:24; Col 1:24. No love is
greater, cf. Jn 15:13. Christ asked
us to replicate this love among ourselves, cf. Jn 13:34. 15:12. How then do we do this?
It was half-way through the school year, and the principal
was lecturing the teachers during the faculty meeting. He presented a painful
list of all their failures, flaws and shortcomings. The list of transgressions
seemed endless. Then he announced that the science club was sponsoring a blood
drive, and that, to promote faculty involvement, he would donate the first pint
of blood.
An anxious voice from the rear of
the room asked, “Whose?”[3]
The disciples wanted the crowd to be sent out to fend for
themselves but Jesus insisted that they give them something to eat. And that voice
that sought to know whose blood would be donated first in our story must have wonderful
excuse/s why it should not be his/hers. But when the disciples listened to Jesus
and offered those meagre loaves and fish, the crowd was fed and what was left
over filled twelve baskets.
Many die today untimely of lack of basic necessities. As we celebrate
the Corpus Christi today, Christ reminds us to offer ourselves for these to live
just as He offered Himself for us to live. Surely, we have different reasons but Christ insists,
“You give them something to eat.” If we listen to Him as the disciples did, the
world will move from Deficiency to superfluous.
But it depends on us. As you eat the Body of Christ and drink His Blood, He expects
you to feed others with yours.
Bible Reading: Matt 25:31-46; Jas 2:14-26.
Thought for today:
“You give them something to eat”.
Let
us pray: Jesus, help
us to follow your example and give ourselves for the good of others – Amen.
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