SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST
(Deuteronomy 8:2-3.14-16; I Corinthians 10:16-17; John
6:51-58)
The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus
Christi) gives us an opportunity to reflect on a few things. First, let us ask,
exactly what are we celebrating today? And, what kind of prayer does the
celebration suggest? Also, how does this party relate to life today?
The celebration of Corpus Christi has its origins in the
Middle Ages. While theologians debated the real presence of Christ in the
sacrament, the people wanted to show their faith in it. It began in France, but
in a short time spread throughout the universal Church. Since the fourteenth
century there has been a procession in which the Blessed Sacrament is carried.
It can be said that Corpus Christi exhorts all three types
of prayer. It gives itself to meditation
in which we ask about the purpose and the process of the Eucharist. In doing
so, we discover that Jesus instituted the Eucharist to make himself present
throughout the world. He is everywhere to support us in our daily struggle to
be holy. When we take the Eucharistic Bread in Holy Communion, it does not so
much become part of us like most food.
Rather it forms us into Christ’s body.
Contemplation differs from meditation because it is more
given to inner silence than to questioning. This feast provides us with an
opportunity to focus on Jesus present on the altar. He anchors us to the truth in a world that
tends to lead us astray. We express our gratitude to Jesus for saving us through
vocal prayer. Whether a song like “Gift of Finest Wheat” or a Eucharistic
prayer like “O Holy Banquet, in which Christ is our food…” we have to say
something.
From almost the beginning the Church has recommended a
procession on the Feast of Corpus Christi. In it we present ourselves as the
Body of Christ with the Sacred Host as our head. We commit ourselves to living
the same self-sacrificing love with which Jesus died to redeem us of sin. For
this reason, we are not surprised to find at our side a teacher who dedicated
her life to the education of children. Or maybe there is a police officer who
more than once risked his life defending others. In other times and other
places saints like San MartÃn de Porres and Santa Francisca Cabrini
participated in such a procession.
During this month of June in almost all the cities of the
world there will be another type of demonstration in the streets. Homosexuals
and proponents of even stranger types of sex want to draw attention to
themselves. We don't want to make fun of them. Many have experienced cruel
prejudice. But neither should we want to join their ranks.
The “gay pride” movement is a way to promote erotic love in
its different forms. We do not believe that it is in any way as worthy as the
love of Christ. Erotic love has its proper place in marriage. It seeks pleasure for the self. In contrast,
the self-sacrificing love that Jesus Christ showed us makes sacrifices for the
good of others.
It is difficult to talk about these things both in the
family and in public today. But we should do it so that others do not go
astray. Perhaps our participation in the Corpus Christi procession gives
testimony to the self-sacrificing love of Christ. But let us not fail to tell
our children and grandchildren that sex has its rightful place only in
marriage. There, with all the sacrifices that marriage demands, the couple
experiences something of the utmost value. They witness the transformation of their erotic
love into the love of Christ. This is
the purpose of the spiritual life: that we learn to love like Christ.
