On this Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known by its Latin title, Corpus Christi, we celebrate and honor the incredible gift of the Eucharist. It is the greatest gift that Jesus has left us on this earth because it the gift of his very self. Today’s homily proposes two key aspects of this feast for meditation. First, we need to better understand what/who this Eucharist really is. But, secondly, we need to reflect upon our response to this gift.
Hopefully, most Catholics would easily get the first part right. The Eucharist is truly the body, blood, soul, and divinity, of Jesus Christ, the second person of the Most Holy Trinity. The Eucharist is God! That’s why we worship the Eucharist, because it is really Jesus. This is the way that Jesus has chosen to fulfill him promise, “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” We should have such a great reverence for this gift.
The second part is harder. What is our response to this gift? Both our first reading and the gospel refer to the “blood of the covenant.” In biblical times, a covenant was always ratified with blood. Much more than a mere contract, a covenant brought about a sacred obligation and brought about a new family relationship. In the old covenant, an animal had to die to witness to the covenant. In the new covenant, there is also blood, the blood of Jesus, the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. To receive the Eucharist is to renew this covenant first made in baptism. When we come forward for Holy Communion, we are saying, as they did in the first reading, that we will do all the Lord has commanded. As Catholics, we say we believe all that the Church teaches, that we are truly part of this covenant family.
Today, as you come forward to receive the Eucharist, the priest will hold up the host and declare “Corpus Christi – The Body of Christ.” What will your response be?