Father Bill says...the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

to: all of my friends
from: Father Bill Muench


Corpus Christi

Not much to report concerning the past week – last weekend was Memorial Day weekend – this is the beginning of the summer season around here – by that I mean that many of our summer visitors come up to prepare their camps and homes for the summer – and their return after school ends – today was rather enjoyable – First Friday – school Mass – it is rather enjoyable for me to sort of banter with the school kids during the homily time – never know what they will come up with but it is always rather exciting.

The Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ



The Spirit unites us in the sharing of the Eucharist – the Body and Blood of Our Savior. A portion of St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians – the First letter to the Corinthians – is one of the readings for Sunday’s Feast Day – St. Paul help found the Christian Community in Corinth in the year 50 – and he wrote this First Letter to the Corinthians in 56 – this is important – so that we remember that the Gospels had not been written as yet – so Paul teaches us something about the early Christian life – in this letter – he writes to correct certain abuses that has crept into the celebration of the Eucharistic meal – in doing so - Paul teaches us what those Christians believed about the Eucharist.

He reminds the Corinthians what he taught them – Jesus on the night before he was handed over – took bread, gave thanks, broke it – “This is my Body”, “Do this in remembrance of me” – Then he took the cup – proclaimed, “This is my blood” – “Do this in remembrance of me”.

And then St. Paul adds, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.”

- Do this in remembrance of me – recall Jesus’ words and actions at Eucharist – emulate his whole manner of life.

-remembrance – not simply to call to mind – but to make present again Christ’s entrusting of himself to us in love.

The Gospel story for this feast is the story of Jesus feeding the multitude –

This story begins with Jesus speaking to the crowds about the Kingdom of god – these are the life giving words of the Lord – consoling, inspiring and challenging for us – Kingdom – the People of God – recognizing the presence of their King in their hearts – living out as well as possible the message of their King – Our Savior, Jesus Christ – enflamed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

Then the Gospel story tells us that he healed those in need – for us at Eucharist – we are healed – Jesus heals the wounds of sin and division – he forgives our sins and heals the wounds they leave- he heals us of our isolationism – we are all healed of our selfishness and indifference to others – Eucharist forms us into a community of love.

Then – the Gospel story tells us of Jesus’ feeding of the multitude – with the overflowing abundance of the Kingdom – this abundance is offered to us constantly through the Eucharist – bringing to us the life and Spirit of our Savior – each time we approach the altar of the Lord - as we gather as the assembly of believers where we remember Christ’s act of sacramental ritual – that we gain strength and give courage to one another – trusting in God’s love.

IN each of the ways in which the whole self is given in love, Jesus’ act of self gift lives on.

So on this Feast of Corpus Christi – celebrating the Eucharist of the Lord – the gift of Our Savior – whose entire self was entrusted to us – both in his ministry of preaching and healing and in his ultimate act of self surrender in death.


LET US PRAY

Almighty God, my Father – fill my life with your Holy Spirit – that I may recognize the presence of Jesus in the Sacrament of His Most Holy Body and Blood in the Sacred Eucharist – so that I may be filled and overwhelmed by the strength and love of the Eucharist – and this Sacred Eucharist may lead and guide me in all that I do – this is my prayer. Amen.

Please join me as we say together the Lord’s Prayer.