Corpus Christi Sunday Year A - 11/6/2023 - Gospel: John 6: 51-59
Body and Blood
Our physical body needs food and water, clean air and a good environment, and the whole network of human relationships for life enjoyment. In a spiritual way, the Holy Eucharist, the Body, and Blood of Christ, provide all necessary nourishment for our spiritual body in this life and the life to come. The celebration of the Holy Body and Blood of Jesus is the celebration of our own spiritual life. It is the celebration of life because Christ dies in our place to give us eternal life. His death is not the death of a mortal, but rather death of the Holy One. 'Into your hand I commend my spirit' is his last words on the cross. Those who die with him, and in him, will be delivered into the hands of the Father, who is the unending source of life and love. Jesus offered His Body and Blood and Soul to the Father. At the Eucharist, Jesus gives us His Body and Blood; We receive the Body and Blood of Jesus; the very same gift Jesus gives to the Father. In other words, the Father gives us the Body and Blood of God's only Son.
We gather at the Eucharist not to query how the Spirit of God works. We, actually, gather with humility, in submission, and above all, in adoration, to profess the work of the Holy Spirit, who in a mysterious way changes the bread and wine, which we offer, into the true Body and Blood of Jesus. The transformation, happens in front of our eyes, though unseeable; and that requires us to have faith in Christ to believe. It happens at the time; when the priest invokes the Spirit of God to do the unthinkable transformation. The priest then repeats the same words Jesus said at the Last Supper. It is commonly known as the consecration of bread and wine. These words tell us, that it is Jesus himself, who changes the bread and wine into his real Body and Blood for the nourishment of our souls. The Eucharist is the three celebrations. First, it is the gift the Father gives us. Second is the work of the Spirit; and lastly, it is the work of Christ himself. It is the celebration of the Trinity's love, where Divine love meets our human love. Divine love is seen in the form of the words of consecration, and human love appears in the form of bread and wine. It is the product of the earth and the work of human hands. We participate in the Eucharist not just by receiving but also offering. Our offering is little and humble, and yet the generosity of God gives us in abundance, and much more than we can imagine. We offer some of our labour and sweat; Jesus in his love and generosity gives us His whole Body. This totality of giving happened once on the cross to the Father. It now happens daily at the Eucharist, each time a priest celebrates the Eucharist. Apart from Jesus; no one knows how to make this transformation, he alone has that ability.
At the Eucharist, we gather in the name of Jesus. This gathering is not simply a social gathering as it appears to be. Beneath this appearance, there lies a rich and diverse experience of pilgrims who gather to share a common purpose; and hope to achieve the same destination. Their purpose is to adore the Holy Eucharist, and find nourishment in the Eucharist. Their destination is Christ.
The celebration of the Eucharist is the celebration of Christ, who, on behalf of the human race, sacrifices himself to reconcile with the Father. Sin enters the world. It robs our inner strength; we are weak to resist temptations. Our lives are tainted and our souls are corrupted. Jesus' lifeblood strengthens our inner lives; purifies our lifeblood; nourishes our faith; and unites us in him.
We give thanks to Jesus for being present in our world and our lives.
We gather at the Eucharist not to query how the Spirit of God works. We, actually, gather with humility, in submission, and above all, in adoration, to profess the work of the Holy Spirit, who in a mysterious way changes the bread and wine, which we offer, into the true Body and Blood of Jesus. The transformation, happens in front of our eyes, though unseeable; and that requires us to have faith in Christ to believe. It happens at the time; when the priest invokes the Spirit of God to do the unthinkable transformation. The priest then repeats the same words Jesus said at the Last Supper. It is commonly known as the consecration of bread and wine. These words tell us, that it is Jesus himself, who changes the bread and wine into his real Body and Blood for the nourishment of our souls. The Eucharist is the three celebrations. First, it is the gift the Father gives us. Second is the work of the Spirit; and lastly, it is the work of Christ himself. It is the celebration of the Trinity's love, where Divine love meets our human love. Divine love is seen in the form of the words of consecration, and human love appears in the form of bread and wine. It is the product of the earth and the work of human hands. We participate in the Eucharist not just by receiving but also offering. Our offering is little and humble, and yet the generosity of God gives us in abundance, and much more than we can imagine. We offer some of our labour and sweat; Jesus in his love and generosity gives us His whole Body. This totality of giving happened once on the cross to the Father. It now happens daily at the Eucharist, each time a priest celebrates the Eucharist. Apart from Jesus; no one knows how to make this transformation, he alone has that ability.
At the Eucharist, we gather in the name of Jesus. This gathering is not simply a social gathering as it appears to be. Beneath this appearance, there lies a rich and diverse experience of pilgrims who gather to share a common purpose; and hope to achieve the same destination. Their purpose is to adore the Holy Eucharist, and find nourishment in the Eucharist. Their destination is Christ.
The celebration of the Eucharist is the celebration of Christ, who, on behalf of the human race, sacrifices himself to reconcile with the Father. Sin enters the world. It robs our inner strength; we are weak to resist temptations. Our lives are tainted and our souls are corrupted. Jesus' lifeblood strengthens our inner lives; purifies our lifeblood; nourishes our faith; and unites us in him.
We give thanks to Jesus for being present in our world and our lives.
Written by Fr Vũđình Tường
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
