June 22, 2014

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16; 1 Corinthians 10: 16-17; John 6:51-58
Today is the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ…growing up I remember this as the Feast of Corpus Christi. There are many articles and a number of books that deal with ‘Eucharistic Miracles.’ I find it very interesting that the origin of this feast is a miracle itself.
In 1263 there was a German priest (Peter) from Prague who had a lots of doubts concerning the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. He decided to make a pilgrimage to Rome and pray for guidance and to pray and do penance along the way. In his journey, he came to a small town in central Italy called Bolsena. While he was celebrating Mass there the ‘miracle’ happened. As he held the host and said the words of consecration,
“TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT, FOR THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.”
blood started to seep out of the host onto his hands and then onto the linen cloth (corporal) on the altar.
He knew that the Pope Urban IV was in the city of Orvieto which was very close and he asked to go there and have an audience. The pope had the incident investigated and that there was no natural explanation that could be found for it…and it was real blood. Pope Urban also had the blood stationed host and the corporal put on display in the Cathedral in Orvieto. The corporal is still there today to be reverenced by all who visit this miracle shrine. This miracle led Pope Urban to establish the feast that is celebrated today: The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ…its name in Latin is Corpus Christi.
Another fact about this miracle that is not often shared is that one of the people staying with the pope in Orvieto at that time was St. Tomas Aquinas, one of the greatest minds in the history of the Church. The pope asked him to write prayers and hums for this feast. These hymns are: O Saving Victim (known in its original Latin as O Salutaris Hostia) which I still used at the start of Eucharistic Adoration. Another is Down in Adoration Falling (in Latin Tantum Ergo) which is sung at Benediction and which is part of a longer song—Sing, My Tongue, of the Savior’s Glory ( in Latin Pange Lingua Gloriosi) which is sung on Holy Thursday night as the Blessed Sacrament is processed to the altar of repose at the end of the service.
I find this journey back in history very interesting but more so is what does all this mean? God is always with us…God cares for us…feeds us with Himself for the journey of our lifetime—to be with Him in heaven forever. Today’s gospel is from John’s sixth chapter and it is very important in understanding the significance of the Eucharist is to read this in its entirety. I will highlight some verses:

“Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee

…a large crowd followed because they saw the signs He was doing for the poor.

…Jesus was concerned about the people not eating even though He knew what He would do.

…Jesus took five barley loaves and two fish from a boy blessed and distributed them.

…there were twelve baskets of leftovers.

…the people said, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”

…that evening the disciples crossed the sea…the wind was strong…Jesus came walking of the water…they were terrified

“It is I, do not be afraid.”

The people walked around the lake to find Jesus, He said, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of man will give you.”

…the people asked ‘What sign are you going to give us so that we may see and believe you? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness.’

…Jesus “I tell you it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven”…the people said give us this bread always, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever come to me will never be hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
…the people complained and Jesus clarified, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

They disputed this…Jesus said “Unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day. For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.” They said THIS TEACHING IS DIFFICULT, WHO CAN ACCEPT IT? “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?” AND THEN THE SAD PART….BECAUSE OF THIS MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES TURNED BACK AND NO LOGNER WENT ABOUT WITH HIM…”So Jesus asked the twelve, Do you also wish to go away? Peter said “Lord to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that You are the Holy One of God. “
Today’s feast is about God’s love for each person. In Greek, Eucharist means gratitude…so I reflect on how God continually takes care of me and everyone. How is Jesus present in the Eucharist…it is a mystery…but it’s a part of a larger mystery: the mystery of God’s love for me even and especially when I don’t love myself. It’s the larger mystery of God’s desire to be with me and each person every day in the most intimate way possible. God is telling me each day, ‘Have I told you today how much I love you?’ Am I listening to this…God does speak it. Every time I say “Amen” in response to The Body of Christ…The Blood of Christ I am saying YES TO THIS SAVING MYSERY OF GOD’s LOVE. So I reflect on:

• How do I show my appreciation for the gift of the Eucharist?
  
• How much reflection time do I have at Mass?
  
• Do I look upon the Mass as an obligation or a great gift from God?
  
• Intrinsic to the sign of the Eucharist is the fact of its abundance…the manna never gave out…in the feedings of Jesus there was baskets that remained…GOD FILLS AND FILLS…Do I accept? Am I grateful? All are welcomed at the feast, all can share to their complete satisfaction, all are blessed with life.