Corpus Christi
Exodus 24: 3-8; Hebrews 9: 11-15;
Mark 14: 12-16, 22-26
We're frequently reminded about the need to eat healthily: we become what we eat! If we eat healthy foods, we develop healthy bodies; conversely, if •we continually eat junk food, we run (or walk!) the risk of becoming unhealthy and/or obese.
While there may be elements of truth in all of this, in regard to our physical life, Jesus leads us to a deeper and more spiritual level of understanding: "If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you shall not have life in you." He promises eternal life to those who believe in Him, and the abiding reminder of that promise is in the Eucharist - "the bread that I shall give is My flesh for the life of the world." That's His covenant with us.
Today's readings remind us that our longing for eternal life will be fulfilled through this covenant with God. In the O.T., God promised to be the God of His people, and they promised to obey. This agreement was sealed in the blood of a sacrificed animal. Salvation isn't simply God's free gift to us with no strings attached.
Last week, we considered the mystery of the Trinity, and I called it the greatest love story ever told. Today, we see a new chapter in God's divine love story with us: He desires to give us Himself totally, to share with us His body, blood soul and divinity as a divine food for our souls. Just as we partake of food and it becomes part of ourselves, so too, as we participate in the Eucharist, we consume Christ's Body and Blood, so that they become part of ourselves and provide us with grace which draws us closer to Him, uniting us so that, though many, throughout the earth, we become one body, in this one Lord.
For us, the Passover meal celebrated by Jesus at the Last Supper brings our relationship to a new level: God's word of love is written, not on tablets of stone, but on the wood of the cross. The blood of the new and eternal covenant is the blood of Jesus poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Our communion brings about our reconciliation with God; we become God's new chosen people, committed to His new commandment to love one another just as He has loved us.
When we receive Christ in communion, we receive the whole Christ - body, blood, soul and divinity. And by taking His life into our own, we allow Him to take us into His life. The red sanctuary lamp, continually burning day and night, is a sign that Jesus wants us to spend time with Him, and our tabernacle is a place for face-to-face encounter. It can be a challenging face, but also a smiling face, an understanding face, an encouraging face, a forgiving face. So if we are conformed to Christ, we can no longer be petty, cruel, spiteful or malicious. Today is the day on which we can focus on the full beauty of Jesus' gift of Himself. Let's honour, revere and love the Sacrament which builds up our humanity by conforming us more and more to the body of Christ.
O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving, be every moment Thine.