SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST
(Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; John
6:51-58)
We might call this time of the year “the season of the great
mysteries.” Last Sunday we celebrated the Holy Trinity, known as the central
mystery of the Christian faith. Although it does not belong to this season, the
mystery of the Incarnation, or Christmas, is also of extraordinary importance.
Likewise, the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead holds a transcendent place
among the mysteries of our faith. We complete this list of principal mysteries with
the feast we celebrate today: the Body and Blood of Christ, or Corpus Christi.
Before reflecting on this solemnity, it is important to
understand what a mystery of faith is. It is not a puzzle to be solved by the
human mind. Rather, it is a revelation from God to be contemplated, accepted,
and incorporated into our lives. We speak, for example, of the “mysteries of
the Rosary,” such as the Assumption of Mary and the Transfiguration of the
Lord. By contemplating them, we realize that they are not entirely beyond our grasp.
Through the grace of the Holy Spirit, we too hope will be assumed into the
Kingdom of God where we shall behold Christ’s glory.
When we speak of the “Body and Blood of Christ,” we are
referring to the Eucharist, the sacrament that strengthens and deepens our
relationship with Jesus Christ. In his presence we experience the first
glimmers of eternal life. In this way, we move toward the universal human goal
of everlasting happiness. Today’s readings teach us what this sacrament is and
how it transforms our lives.
In the Gospel, Jesus declares that he gives his own body to
eat and his own blood to drink. Because the Jews respond with disbelief, Jesus
emphasizes that he is not speaking figuratively. He repeats what he has just
said but uses an even stronger expression: whoever eats his flesh remains in
him. How can the flesh of a person be consumed without violating human dignity?
The answer introduces us to the Eucharistic mystery. Eucharistic bread has been
inwardly transformed into Christ’s Body for the benefit of the one who eats it.
Human dignity is not violated because what is consumed is the appearance and
qualities of bread, not those of human flesh. Yet beneath the appearance of
bread remains the reality of Christ’s Body.
As evidence of this mystery, the Body of Christ does not
diminish within the person who receives it; rather, it grows. In the second
reading, Saint Paul asks, “The bread that we break, is it not a participation
in the body of Christ?” Of course it is. The Body of Christ, which is also the
Church, grows as we are strengthened by the Eucharist. In a famous statement,
Saint Augustine explains this phenomenon: ordinary food is transformed into the
person who eats it; but when we receive the Body of Christ, it is the
communicant who is transformed into Christ.
The Eucharist is also food for the journey. The first
reading comes from Moses’ final address to the Israelites. There he reminds
them that the Lord fed them with another extraordinary “bread” in the desert.
That “bread,” the manna, enabled them to continue their journey and become the
People of God. In the same way, the Eucharist enables us to persevere through
the struggles of life. Through it we can overcome temptations, grow in charity,
and endure life’s trials until we reach our final destination with God.
The mysteries of faith are not meant only to be
contemplated; they are also meant to be lived. With regard to the Body and
Blood of Christ, living this mystery requires that we give positive answers to
several questions. Do we give the Eucharist the honor it deserves by preparing
to receive it through the proper fast, by seeking forgiveness for our sins, and
by responding with a sincere “Amen” when it is handed to us? Do we observe the
commandments and teachings of the Church, cooperate with the initiatives of our
parish, and take an active role in its ministries? Finally, are we preparing
for the end of our life by treating our family members with love, sharing our
abundance with the poor, and avoiding evil?
Although living in this way requires effort, it is well
worth it. It is no accident that the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ,
is called “the source and summit” of our Catholic faith. It is the source because it nourishes us on
the journey, and it is the summit because it becomes the heavenly banquet.
