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Corpus Christi Sunday Year C - 23/6/2019 - Gospel: Lk 9: 11b-17
Source of life
Our human body needs blood to be alive and blood needs a body for renewal and regeneration of new blood cells. Without blood a body is dead cold and when blood is out of the body, it won't survive long. Our blood stream transports oxygen and nutrition to cells and tissues. It supplies hormones to other parts of the body and keeps the body temperature warm. It seals and heals wounds from infection. 

We celebrate the Feast 'The Body and Blood of Christ' known as- Corpus Christi- for two major reasons. First, it is the celebration of our own source of life that Jesus has given to us freely: 'Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life' Jn 6,54.
Second, it is the celebration of the New Eternal Covenant Jesus initiated with the human race. The Covenant was not made by sweat and tears, but it was sealed by Jesus' unconditional love, by His very own blood poured out on the cross. He emptied Himself by letting go the last drop of blood in His heart. He stretched out His hands on the cross for the nails to go through. Wounds were inflicted by whipping, and dust on the road of Calvary covered them to stop the bleeding. Hot wind cracked His dried lips. Trails of blood were left behind His footsteps. Stones on road side were tainted with blood and it became food for meat- eater ants.

Our human blood removes the body waste and protects it from harm caused by foreign agents. Through His Cross, Jesus renews our life and removes our sin. 'For this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many for the forgiveness of sin Mt 26,28'.

By the power of the Spirit, the bread and wine offered on the Altar become the real Body and Blood of Jesus, food for our souls. The Emmaus' account told us, that Jesus blessed and broke the bread, and then the apostles recognized the Risen Christ. Every time we come to the Eucharist we recall the Last Supper and the very words of Jesus 'This is my body broken for you' and 'this is my blood, the blood of the new Covenant'.

At the Eucharist we gather for table fellowship nourishment in which we thank God for His love. We do it because we love Jesus, and we keep His Word alive in our lives. We also recall His hospitality, and we celebrate the Eucharist with utmost reverence and joy. In celebrating the feast of Corpus Christi, the Church calls us to become the body broken in providing service for the lonely, the underprivileged and the needy. The celebration has nothing to do with superiority in the world's standard, but rather it is God's love shown through self- sacrifice, humility and service. Jesus enters into relationship with us in the most humble way, under the appearance of our daily food and drink.  Jesus becomes our sole resource of life, providing nutrition for the soul and the source of eternal salvation. The Church trusts our honesty when we come to the Holy Communion. Through it we are in communion with the Lord, and His Church, and as well as with each other. We pray that The Body and Blood of Christ might transform us to become what we receive.

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