*HOW FAITHFUL ARE YOU TO YOUR COVENANTAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?* (Ex 24:3-8, 39-40; Heb 9, 11-15; Mk 14:12-16. 22-26).
By REV. FR. PAUL ANIGBORO
Among Africans and in most cultures, *blood covenant are not taken with levity or for granted because of the fact that blood is involved.* Covenant generally has to do with an agreement between two persons to be faithful to a particular course. Thus, when a party fails to fulfil his or her own part of the covenant, questions will surely be asked as to why he or she has failed in his or her own part of the covenant?
Today that we celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, is a perfect time to ask ourselves again about *how faithful we are to the covenantal relationship we made with God on the day we received the Holy Eucharist for the first time.* Before going further into the reflection for today, a little history of this feast won't be a bad idea.
The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ popularly known as Corpus Christi was introduced in the late 13th century to encourage the faithful to give special adoration to the Holy Eucharist. Later, it was extended to the entire Latin Church by Urban IV in 1264 and became a mandatory feast of the universal Church in 1312. Traditionally, this solemnity is celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. However, where it is not a day of obligation, it is celebrated on the Sunday following the Trinity Sunday.
There are two feasts in the liturgical calendar that invite us to meditate on the mystery of the Eucharist: Maundy Thursday and the Feast of the Precious Body and Blood of Jesus. The celebration of the Maundy Thursday reminds us that the Eucharist is a sacrificial meal. Today's celebration as we read in the three readings invites us to look at the *Eucharist as a covenant.* They all highlight the symbol of blood being poured out as a sign of covenant.
In the first reading, the blood of animals were split and sprinkled on the people and on the altar of the Lord as a symbol of the covenant between God and Israel. In the 2nd reading, we are reminded that the new covenant made between God and man was not sealed by the blood of animals but by the blood of Jesus Christ, Who willing poured it out on the cross for our sake. The gospel reminds us of how this wonderful sacrament of the Eucharist was instituted.
Dear friends, the Eucharist we partake in daily is a symbol of the covenant we made with God and so we need to ask ourselves how faithful are we to this covenant? Since God cannot break his covenant, we are the ones guilty of breaking it most times. To help us answer this question, let us share some few insights about this sacrament.
*Firstly, the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life (CCC 1324).* The whole activities of the church revolves round this sacrament. Have we made the Eucharist the center of our lives? How often do we visit the Blessed Sacrament in the Terbarnacle?
*Secondly, St. Paul says in 1 Cor. 11:27, "therefore, if anyone eats of the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily, he sins against the body and blood of the Lord."* Do we receive in a state of grace or in sin? Do we receive out of force or shame of sitting alone while others go to receive?
*Thirdly, Jesus says in John 6:53, "if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you."* Are you part of the few who is not receiving the Eucharist? What could be holding you back? polygamous marriage or what? Whatever the reason, they are not enough for rejecting eternal life.
*Lastly, the Eucharist calls us to be Christ bearers.* Do we reflect what we eat or we contradict it? Jesus gave himself freely to us. Are we ready to do the same to our neighbour? When we are not Christ bearers, we become unfaithful to the covenant.
As we celebrate this great feast today, let us re-examine ourselves regarding the Eucharist. Since we have made the decision to receive Jesus, we are already in a covenant with him. He invited us and we gladly accepted the invitation, let us then try to be faithful to the covenant.
*May the body and blood of Jesus that we partake in during mass not bring us condemnation but bring us to life everlasting. Amen.*
Wishing you a happy and restful Sunday in the Lord's presence. God loves you.
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