02.06.2024 – St Patrick Catholic Church, Largo, FL

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This is my body given for your freedom, take all and eat till the day of my return

Exodus 24:3-8, Psalm 115, Hebrews 9:11-15, Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

Today, we celebrate the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, (Corpus et Sanguinis Christi). It is a very important celebration because the Holy Eucharist, which principally celebrates the body and blood of Christ stands at the centre of all the Church´s life especially its worship and liturgy. It is a day that gives us the opportunity to evaluate our appreciation of the Holy Eucharist. Whenever we line up to receive the Holy Communion, the Priest or the Extraordinary Minister of communion says “The Body of Christ” and we respond “Amen.” The Amen means yes, I believe that what I am receiving is the body of Christ. So, if we have the body of Christ, if we have Christ inside of us, we have to strive to become like Christ. St. Paul in his First letter to the Corinthians chapter 11 warns that those who come forward to receive the body of Christ should first examine themselves before they come forward so that they will not eat and drink damnation for themselves. “So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.” (1Cor 11:27-28). That is why, we need to make peace with our brothers, make an examination of conscience, make a good confession and strive to live by the gospel values before we come forward for communion.

Today´s readings wants us to understand the origin of the Institution of the Holy Eucharist and its implication for our salvation. Two words stand out and cuts across the three readings: blood and covenant. The first reading from The Book of Exodus reminds us of the covenant God made with the people of Israel on Mount Sinai. After Moses read to the people the terms and conditions of the covenant, the people gave their unanimous assent saying: “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do, we will be obedient.” The covenant was sealed with the blood which Moses sprinkled on the people. Moses said: “See the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” The writer of The Letter to the Hebrews make reference to this blood of the covenant saying “if the blood goats sanctify those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, how much more the blood of Christ…” We all know the history of Israelites infidelities to the covenant and the continuous prophecies especially by Jeremiah and Ezekiel about imminence of a New Covenant. The Blood of Christ is the Blood of the New Covenant. Today´s Gospel captures this clearly: “Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” And again, St Paul reminds us that “as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord´s death until he comes” (1Cor 11:23-26).

What we celebrate today and at every Mass is the last act of love of Jesus Christ to his followers – The Institution of the Eucharist. And the gospel reading helps remind us of that event. At the last supper, The Lord Jesus gave them himself in a way he had never done before, and in a way that anticipated the death he would die for them and for all, on the following day. In giving himself in the form of the bread and wine, he was declaring himself to be their food and drink. In calling on them to take and eat, to take and drink, he was asking them to take their stand with him, to give themselves to him as he was giving himself to them. It was because of that supper and of what went on there that we are here in this church today. Jesus intended his last supper to be a beginning rather than an end. It was the first Eucharist. Ever since that meal, the Church has gathered regularly in his name, to do and say what he did and said at that last supper — taking bread and wine, blessing both, breaking the bread and giving both for disciples to eat and drink. The “Do this in memory of me” really captures the fact that Jesus meant to institute the Eucharist in perpetuity. (Luke 22:19). Jesus in John´s Gospel reminds us clearly – “Unless you eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:53-54). On a day like this it is important to read again the Bread of Life Discourse as recorded in John 6: 22-59.

Jesus continues to give himself as food and drink to his followers. He also continues to put it up to his followers to take their stand with him, to take in all he stands for, living by his values, walking in his way, even if that means the cross. Whenever we come to Mass and receive the Eucharist, we are making a number of important statements. We are acknowledging Jesus as our bread of life, as the one who alone can satisfy our deepest hungers. We are also declaring that we will throw in our lot with him, as it were, that we will follow in his way and be faithful to him all our lives, in response to his faithfulness to us. In that sense, celebrating the Eucharist is not something we do lightly. Our familiarity with the Mass and the frequency with which we celebrate it can dull our senses to the full significance of what we are doing. Every time we gather for the Eucharist, we find ourselves once more in that upper room with the first disciples, and the last supper with all it signified is present again to us.

How can I repay the Lord

for his goodness to me?

The cup of salvation I will raise;

I will call on the Lord’s name.

My vows to the Lord I will fulfil

Before all his people

May our participation in the Holy Eucharist and our partaking of the body and blood of Christ help us to lead lives that are worthy of Christ… and at the end, gain eternal life… Amen.