Next
Corpus Christi Sunday Year A - 14/6/2020 - Gospel: Jn 6:51-58
Symbol of Life
We have a body and we need to love it. The idea of disliking some parts of our body comes from social movements, promoting by the beauty and cosmetic industry. Whether you like your own body or not, you still need to look after it, otherwise you have to bear the cost in the years to come. Caring for the human body is a wise, and praise worthy cause. Many countries now have the Red Cross - some have it in different names - because it gives support to life. The Red Cross Society began in 1863 in Switzerland, to provide assistance to victims of disasters, armed conflicts and health crises. 

Parents show love for their children by providing them with what they need for their physical, mental, and spiritual development. They are able to give physical body support, and add more to life for their own children. All parents would love to do that for their offspring. They want to do more for them, but often don't know how; especially when it comes to the question of the afterlife. For those who believe in Jesus, dedicating the lives of their loved ones to Jesus to care for means to love, and to have faith in Him.

We are able to donate blood while we continue go on living, but organ donation often happens after a donor has passed away. Jesus, our Lord, loves us so much that He feeds our soul with His own Body and blood. He made it visible for us in the forms of Bread and Wine - the Eucharist. Jesus once said 'I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world Jn 6,51'. This extraordinary teaching made some people questioned about Jesus' ability; others rejected, not just His teaching; but even the language used. The question whether to trust human wisdom or divine's generosity exists even today. Those who believe 'everything is possible to God' have faith in Jess' teaching, that

'Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day v.54.'

Eternal life is not a baseless promise but it is a reality. Jesus allows those who believe in Him to share His Risen life. Receiving the 'Body and Blood' of Jesus moves a person deeper into relationship with the Trinity.  The words 'broken body and blood poured out' points to the cross. Jesus' Body was broken like bread that was broken as food to share, and His Blood spewed out from a broken body. Parents are able to transform 'the hard work of their body and sweat' into food, shelter and something higher - love and compassion - which is invisible to our eyes, but the effect on the child has to be seen to be believed. Jesus hinted at the linkage between the reality of His Body and Blood poured out on the cross to His teaching about life- giving. Whenever we come to the table of the Lord, the connection between the cross and the Eucharist is real. The two become one, one Body and one Flesh. What we today celebrate makes alive, what, in the past, Jesus offered on the cross. By doing that we participate in His life on earth, and His Risen life in heaven, and that is our faith. We pray to love and have faith in Jesus.

Previous