(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)
Feast of Corpus Christi (C), June 2, 2013
Liturgical readings
Genesis 14:18-20
Psalm 110
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Luke 9:11-17
"Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and pronounced a blessing over the loaves."
The multiplication of the loaves is one gospel passage the Church refers to when she teaches about the Eucharist and the solemnity of Corpus Christi. This miracle story in the life of our Lord is not only in Luke 9:11-17 but has its gospel parallel in Matthew 14:13-21 and in Mark 6:30-44. There are distinct differences among the three versions of this miracle story. Theology can teach those differences. But for purposes of reflection, what can impress us among these three presentations of the miracle of the loaves, is what is common among the three gospel versions: the manner by which Christ fed the crowd
- 1 "he looked up to heaven"
- and 2 "blessed, broke and gave the loaves to his disciples", for distribution to the people.
- (The second quote contains the same words used in the Last Supper story, and also the same words spoken by the priest-presider during the consecration in the Mass).
Now, from Scriptural tradition, we go to traditional Catholic spirituality. And one classic reflection given by an important teacher of the Church is from St. Thomas Aquinas. St. Thomas of Aquinas wrote about the feast of Corpus Christi:
"He offered his body to God the Father on the altar
of the cross as a sacrifice for our reconciliation.
He shed his blood for our ransom and purification,
so that we might be redeemed from our wretched
state of bondage and cleansed from all sin. But
to ensure that the memory of so great a gift would
abide with us forever, he left his body as food
and his blood as drink for the faithful to consume
in the form of bread and wine."
The Body and Blood of the Lord is a sacrament of charity. It nourishes the soul and fills him with God's love - ennobling his human spirit to be aware beyond his usual routines, and see the people around him who not only lack the opportunity to be nourished in spirit, but also lack the means to purchase food and medicines. There are two ways to put this Sacrament of charity to practice: if pressed for time because of profession or business, he can donate to charitable causes; if time is abundant because of retirement, volunteering to any of the pastoral works of a parish or mission is making the Eucharist a force for good. We see that as the Body and Blood of Jesus is received in the Eucharist, the community that gathered makes that Body of Christ alive in the very circumstances they will be working and living. Just as Jesus multiplied the loaves, so the Eucharist multiplies the presence of Jesus for our time. Just as Jesus is the Bread of Life, the Eucharist makes us the bread of life for others as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment