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Dear Audience,For better understanding of the spiritual message behind this homily I kindly remind you to first read and contemplate the biblical texts before reading or listening to my preaching - a human reflection on the Word of God!
The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Year C)
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0First Reading
A reading from the Book of Genesis (14:18-20)
In those days, Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine, and being a priest of God Most High, he blessed Abram with those words: "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who delivered your foes into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
(P) The word of the Lord.(R) Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms of David (110:1, 2, 3, 4)
(R) You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool." (R)
The scepter or your power the Lord will stretch forth from Zion: "Rule in the midst of your enemies." (R)
"Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor; before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you." (R)
The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek." (R)
Second Reading
A reading from the First Letter of Saint Paul of the Corinthians (11:23-26)
Brothers and sisters: I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
(P) The word of the Lord.(R) Thanks be to God.
Gospel
Gospel Acclamation
(R) Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever. (R)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (9:11b-17)
Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed to be cured. As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said, "Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here."
He said to them, "Give them some food yourselves." They replied, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people." Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Then he said to the disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty." They did so and made them all sit down. Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.
(P) The Gospel of the Lord.(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Homily
A story was told about a priest who served as a tour guide to a group of tourists at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. Those tourists knew absolutely nothing about the Eucharist and the Catholic Faith. With particular care, the priest explained the great and beautiful masterpieces of art, sculpture and architecture round the Vatican premises. He finally concluded the tour at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and tried his best to explain quickly what it was. As the group dispersed, an elderly man, who had been particularly attentive and curious, stayed behind, and said, "Pardon me, Father. Would you please explain the Blessed Sacrament clearly once again?" The priest did, after which the man exclaimed, "Ah, if this is so, what is in this chapel is a greater work of art than anything else in this basilica."
Another story is about Saint Philip Neri, an Italian priest from the 16th century, widely known for his cheerful nature, humour and joy. Once Saint Philip noticed a man leaving the church right after Communion. Immediately, he sent Mass servers with candles and bells to accompany the man. The man stormed back into the church and confronted him. "Father, what kind of joke is this?" he demanded. Saint Philip Neri said, "It's no joke. The rules of the liturgy say that the Blessed Sacrament should be treated with reverence. You left the church immediately after receiving the Eucharist without offering even a prayer of thanksgiving. You were carrying the Blessed Sacrament within you. So, I asked the boys to accompany you to honour Him."
These two stories remind us of the special place that the Holy Eucharist, also known as the Blessed Sacrament, holds in the Catholic faith and the deep reverence that we, the believers, must have for it, whether it is reserved in the tabernacle of a church or during the celebration of Mass or after we receive it. We believe that because of His steadfast and unchanging love and His desire to be intimately present with us always, Christ becomes really, truly, and substantially present in the Eucharist, not just symbolically, as some Christian groups view it. This means that the glorified Christ who rose from the dead after dying for our sins is literally and wholly present, body and blood, His humanity and divinity, in the Eucharist, under the species of bread and wine. Sadly, however, we do observe a decline in reverence or a lack of reverence for the Holy Eucharist in our churches throughout the world not just in outward actions or behaviour, but also in the understanding and appreciation of its significance.
The lack of reverence for the Eucharist exists not only among those who don't believe in Him and those who don't attend Mass, but also among those who profess faith in the Real Presence of Christ and those of us, like you and me, who regularly attend Mass. It's been said that familiarity breeds contempt. Familiarity with the Eucharist, rather than leading us to a deeper understanding of Christian faith and a stronger connection with Jesus, and a greater sense of purpose in life, probably has led some people, not to contempt but perhaps complacency, taking the Eucharist for granted or with the attitude of indifference. While we may believe the Eucharist is the actual body and blood of Christ, we sometimes tend to treat it as a mere ritual without acknowledging its significance as a sacrament and a source of spiritual nourishment for us, potentially hindering the spiritual benefits it offers.
Today's solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ is indeed a reminder of many things we often forget. First of all, it reminds us of the spiritual hunger in every one of us that is just as real and fundamental as physical hunger. Spiritual hunger is a deep, innate longing and desire within us for connection and relationship with God and for meaning, purpose, and fulfilment in our lives.
Secondly, it reminds us of the Lord Jesus' desire to feed all of us with His Body and Blood so that we may be nourished and sustained spiritually. In the feeding of the multitude in today's gospel, we read that Jesus did not just provide for his chosen disciples, but for the entire crowd that had gathered. He satisfied the physical hunger of everyone present. In the same way, Jesus provides spiritual satisfaction to all, regardless of our social status, gender, or past sins. He fills us with His peace, joy, and love.
Thirdly, it serves as a reminder to deepen our faith and reverence for the Eucharist. We can show reverence through both internal devotion and external actions. Internally, first and foremost, we must believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Because Jesus identified Himself as the "bread of life" and said that anyone who eats His flesh and drinks His blood will have eternal life and resurrection, and they will abide in Him, John (6). Jesus again connected the bread to His Body and the wine to His Blood at the Last Supper with His disciples and invited them to eat and drink in remembrance of Him. Secondly, we must be in a state of grace and free from mortal or grave sins. If not, we must go to confession and receive absolution before receiving the Eucharist. Thirdly, we must abstain from food and drink, except for water and medicine, for at least one hour before receiving the Eucharist. We must also refrain from chewing gum or using breath mints during Mass and before receiving the Eucharist.
Externally, first of all, we can show our reverence for the Eucharist through various gestures and actions like genuflecting, kneeling, and bowing. We can genuflect or bow upon entering or exiting the church, especially when passing the tabernacle. Secondly, we must maintain a quiet and respectful atmosphere in the presence of the tabernacle. During the Mass we must stay focused and stay aware of the sacredness of the moment, both in mind and body. This includes actively participating in the prayers, responses, and songs, paying attention to the readings and homily, bowing the head or folding hands at the consecration, acknowledging the moment when the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ, and receiving the Eucharist with reverence either on the tongue or in the hand with care and devotion. Thirdly, when we receive the Eucharist, we must respond with a conscious and deliberate "Amen" as an act of faith. We do not say "Thank you." Fourthly, after receiving the Eucharist, we must maintain a prayerful silence until the end of the Mass and use the opportunity to privately express gratitude to Christ, commune and deepen our connection with Him.
Lastly but by no means least, we must dress modestly and appropriately for church services so as to avoid drawing undue attention to oneself or distracting others from the purpose of worship. Thus, as Catholics, we can show our reverence for Jesus Christ in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist in many ways and obtain God's abundant graces to do what we could never do in our own strength. Today, let us pray that we may deeply understand, appreciate, revere and believe the mysteries of the Eucharist, and receive its blessings and spiritual benefits. Just as the leftover bread and fish were collected to prevent waste and to share with others, let us gather and share our spiritual "leftovers" such as the insights, understanding, knowledge, wisdom, and positive experiences we gain to benefit others.
(P) Amen.God Bless You!
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