Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. It is also known as the Feast of Corpus Christi. While we should always honor the body and blood of Jesus, this weekend is a special time to deeply reflect on the gift of the Eucharist and to be grateful for this holy gift.
In the first reading from Genesis, we heard how Melchizedek served bread and wine to Abram blessing both him and God. Melchizedek was a priest of God Most High. This means he was a priest of the True God, not of the pagan gods. He fulfilled his priestly duty by blessing Abram and God. The serving of the bread and wine was a precursor to the eucharistic feast that would be instituted by Christ.
In the second reading from First Corinthians, St. Paul offers a teaching on the Eucharist. He explains that at the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and wine and gave thanks to God. He said the bread was his body and the cup was his blood. We should eat and drink in remembrance of him. St. Paul concluded by saying, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.” It gives me chills hearing those words and realizing that each time we participate in Mass and receive Holy Communion we are following what Jesus told the disciples to do and are sharing an experience with all the generations who preceded us. We have this special connection with one another, the church, and with all of those who have gone before us. We really are one body.
In Luke’s Gospel, we heard about the feeding of the 5000. We know the number of people actually fed was likely greater since the 5000 would not have included women and children. The disciples wanted to dismiss the large crowd so they could find their own meal and lodging. However, Jesus had another plan. He told the disciples to feed them yourselves. And the disciples replied, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have.” But Jesus took what they had, blessed it, and multiplied the little they had so it fed everyone with 12 baskets left over.
This is a lesson on how God can take our small offerings and make them into something larger. The people’s physical needs were met, but in the process, Jesus demonstrated how God cares and provides for each one of us. The multiplication of the loaves was certainly miraculous. But it did more than feed the hungry crowd, it prefigured the superabundance of the Eucharist. At the Last Supper, Jesus would take ordinary bread and offer to us his life-giving body. He would take wine and offer to us his life-giving blood. What a remarkable gift that is still given to us today.
The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Catholic faith. It is the sacrament of sacraments. It is the source of our strength. It is the source of our unity. It is the mystery of faith. You have heard about the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Have you heard about the fruits of Holy Communion?
The main fruit you receive in the Eucharist is an intimate union with Jesus. In John 6:56-57 Jesus said, “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me.” Jesus only speaks the truth, so when he says this, you can truly believe him. Through the Eucharist, Jesus becomes part of you. This intimate union with Jesus strengthens you spiritually. This is the food that renews, preserves, and even increases the life of grace you received in Baptism.
Another fruit of receiving Holy Communion is it helps to separate you from sin. When you receive the Eucharist and are open to the graces Jesus has for you, you are nourished and strengthened to grow in love. As you grow in love, you become more aligned with Christ. This in turn helps to separate you from sin. The more you fall in love with Jesus, the more you follow his teachings and example, you will want to avoid mortal sin. Let’s be clear, the Eucharist does not forgive sins. The forgiveness of sins comes through the sacrament of Reconciliation. We should take advantage of Reconciliation to be sure we are in the right disposition to worthily receive the Eucharist. However, when you fall deeper in love with Jesus through the Eucharist, you want to try even harder to avoid those behaviors that are not pleasing to him.
Another fruit of the Eucharist is unity. The Eucharist unites us as the Church, the body of Christ. Holy Communion renews and deepens that unity. As St. Paul says in First Corinthians 10:16-18, “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.” St. Augustine said, “Believe what you see, see what you believe and become what you are: the Body of Christ.” Yes, the Eucharist is a sacrament of unity. And unity is something we all need.
These fruits of the Holy Communion can be yours. Jesus is freely offering them to you. How can you receive these fruits, these benefits of the Eucharist? By being intentional when receiving the Eucharist. Be conscious of who you are receiving. Jesus can change your life. Just ask and surrender to the will of the one who loves you perfectly.
Do you want to change your life? Fall in love with the Eucharist. Jesus is truly present in this remarkable gift. And this is a gift we should be grateful for at every Mass. Tell Jesus thank you. He is with you always in the Blessed Sacrament. This is not ordinary food. It is supernatural food. It is food for the soul.
St. Maximilian Kolbe said, “If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion.” He had a deep love for the Eucharist, knowing he was in Jesus’ presence through the Eucharist. He said this about receiving Holy Communion. “You come to me and unite Yourself intimately to me under the form of nourishment. Your Blood now runs in mine, Your Soul, Incarnate God, compenetrates mine, giving courage and support. What miracles! Who would have ever imagined such!”
As you prepare to receive the Eucharist, be really conscious of who you are about to receive. As you look upon the host and hear the words the body of Christ, know without a doubt that in the appearance of bread, it is Jesus that you see. When the host touches your tongue or your hand, know that you and Jesus are touching. He is embracing you with his love. As you consume the host, recognize this act of pure love as Jesus gives himself to you. As you return to your pew to pray, tell Jesus you love him, and ask Jesus to transform you into the person the Father knows you can be.
May God’s grace and peace be with you.
Into the Deep 