Let us treasure the opportunity to honor the Body and Blood of Christ
– and welcome Him within ourselves
Reflections on the readings for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (June 3, 2018): EX 24:3-8; PS 116:12-13,15-16,17-18; HEB 9:11-15; MK 14:12,22-26
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
On this joyful feast we venerate the precious body and blood of our Lord.
On Good Friday, we contemplated the sacrifice Jesus made of Himself for the sake of all His beloved children. On Holy Thursday, we reverenced the incalculable gift of His body, blood, soul and divinity in the Blessed Sacrament. God always overwhelms us with His love and generosity. It was not enough to save us from sin and death, He offers us a way to share in His very life. Mark described the final Passover supper that Christ shared with His Apostles: “While they were eating, He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take it; this is My body.’ Then He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is My blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many’” (Mark 14:22-24).
Our Lord wants us to open ourselves to receive Him and allow Him to nourish us, body and soul. Just as the Son of God embraced our humanity, He now lets us consume His flesh and blood, His soul and divinity. The disciples of Jesus, while He was on earth and throughout the 2,000 years since then, have had this beautiful opportunity. Let us never take our Savior for granted. The more frequently, devoutly and gratefully we welcome Him in holy Communion, the more we grow like Him – and the more surely we follow Him to our eternal home.