Corpus Christi

June 29^th, '16 Homily- Fr.Francis Chirackal CMI

Gn 14:18-20; 1Cor 11:23-26; Lk 9:11b-17

For Readings

http://www.usccb.org/nab/05290216.shtml

Why do we come to the church and receive Holy Communion? Today there were many options to go. But we chose to come to church, why? The answer is, we wanted to be FED. In the natural law anything which is alive, to retain its life and grow, proper food is essential. All living creatures do know this. When we dig in the ground or cut some trees we may see certain food securely stored in its empty spaces inside by some kind of insects or other small creatures for their current or future needs. They do know that they have to preserve food for their safe and secured future while their present needs are being met. We all believe that we have an eternal living soul. It needs to be fed and strengthened and needs preparation to enter eternal joy when we leave this world through the gate of death. God’s grace is the food for our eternal life, which we have to receive and preserve here and now. As we believe, we can’t earn it after our death. That is why we are here today, to feed our soul and to keep it eligible for eternal life. To give us this grace God himself became our spiritual food transforming our consumable wheat bread and wine into His own Body and Blood in the Eucharist. From the beginning of the Early Church onwards it became the source and symbol of great power and strength. Today we are celebrating the feast of that Body and Blood of Christ.

In the first reading we see how Melchizedek who was a king and priest prays to God and blesses Abraham. The bread and wine he brought at that time tells of some religious significance as they form an alliance between them. St.Paul in the second reading narrates the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper by Jesus. He transforms the bread and wine into his Body and Blood and tells them to do it in his remembrance. In the gospel Jesus feeds the crowd with miraculous physical food after feeding them with the spiritual food of eternal life.  

We see many testimonies for this in the sacred Scriptures. In his own words, St. Paul commanded the Corinthians to "Proclaim the Lord's death until He comes." [1 Cor. 11:26] These words were not a fabrication of St. Paul's mind. They were rephrased words that Jesus commanded to His followers during the Last Supper when He said, "Do this in remembrance of me." [Lk. 22:19]. Today, we are celebrating the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.

During His ministry on earth, Jesus said, "I am the living bread that came down from Heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." [Jn. 6:51] During the Last supper Jesus said: “This is my Body; this is my Blood.” And in the Acts of the Apostles we see the Early Church celebrating the Word and the Breaking of the Bread… and early martyrs died for celebrating this Eucharist. Around the year 425 A.D., St. Augustine wrote that Christ – was the same in flesh as walked the earth – that He gave that same flesh to us to be eaten for our salvation. The words of Thomas Aquinas used in the hymn Tantum Ergo were written in the 1200’s: “Down in adoration falling, this great Sacrament we hail. Faith will tell us Christ is present, when our human senses fail.” Eucharistic miracles at different parts of the world testify that the same Body and Blood of Jesus is present in the Eucharist in substance even today. The eyes of faith see the same Jesus in the form of bread and wine in all the holy Masses.  

Jesus brings believers from the whole universe under one body of Church while Jesus, in every holy Mass brings together the whole congregation united for the same purpose of worship sharing the same bread and cup irrespective of all differences. The Body and Blood of Jesus is the most powerful symbol of unity and communion, never ending source of comfort and joy. Eucharist invites and commands us to be united in sacrificial love and selfless service. As we share this Holy Communion let us pray for grace, to keep our eyes of faith, always wide open and feel the presence of Jesus in our midst and experience His self-giving sacrificial love in abundance and ensure our joyful eternal life. As we are receiving the body and blood of Jesus our merciful Lord, let us transmit that same God’s mercy to our fellow beings in our day-to-day lives, especially during this year of Mercy. God bless you.