Corpus Christi

Gen. 14:18-20, I Cor. 11:23-26, Lk. 9:11-17. Today’s celebration of Corpus Christ, the Body of Christ, is the feast of the centre and heart of our Church, faith and lives. While the primary focus of this Solemnity is on the spiritual nourishment that Christ gives us, its secondary focus is on the Body of Christ which is the Church. Today, virtually all the readings touched one issue of giving or offering something. The first reading succinctly tells us that: “Abram offered Melchizedek a tithe of everything.” He did not give it with the intention of receiving something in return. Rather, he did it out of his own free will. Melchizedek blessed him and offered thanks to God on his behalf with bread and wine. These were offerings of one’s self in the form of material items. Christ offers Himself sacramentally to us as a way of expressing His unconditional love for us.

When we re-live this experience, we truly eat the Body and drink the Blood of Christ. “Do this in memory of me,” positions us to be ready to offer ourselves completely and for the salvation of others as Christ did for our own salvation. When we re-live this experience, we are nourished spiritually for the purpose of offering ourselves to and for others. In today's Gospel, Jesus says to Andrew and his colleagues: “Give them something to eat.'' Today also, Christ is asking us to offer something. Today, we are challenged to offer all that we have and are to others. Therefore, we must be hospitable enough to help the weak, the spiritually hungry and thirsty to participate in the great feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.

May Jesus in the Eucharist always be the centre and heart of our Church, centre and heart of our faith and lives! Amen!! Good morning and happy Corpus Christi Sunday!!!