May
29, 2016
Corpus
Christi Sunday – Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Genesis
14:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Luke 9:11B-17
If you try to
google in the internet “How to have a beautiful body,” you will surely find
many tips telling you to watch your diet, exercise regularly and have a healthy
lifestyle. But what does it mean to have a beautiful body? Does it refer to a
sexy body like that of the models and beauty queens? Does it refer to a strong
body like that of the body builders and weight lifters? Or does it refer to a
healthy body free from toxins and nourished by eating healthy foods?
If we consult
the Scriptures today, we can say that a beautiful body is not the sexy body,
not the healthy body, not the strong body, but a broken body – like the body of
Christ on the cross. But how can the broken body of Christ, be considered as
something beautiful? What is worth emulating in the Body of Christ? As we celebrate
today the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, let us reflect on this in three points:
THE
BROKEN BODY OF CHRIST IS BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE IT GIVES LIFE TO ALL OF US. If you look at the body of your
parents and grandparents, notice the wrinkled and rough hands
of your mother who cooked your food and washed your clothes. Notice the
drooping shoulders of your father due to constant work. Notice the curve of
your grandparents’ back as a result of silent sacrifice. All of these do not
make their bodies sexy, strong and healthy.
But they nevertheless make their bodies “beautiful.” They are signs of
love, signs of selfless giving in order that you may live. This is what we see
in the broken and wounded body of Christ on the cross.
Paul tells us in
the second reading that Jesus intended to give His entire life – His body and
blood for our sake so that we may have life. A body that gives life to others
is a beautiful body. Our bodies become beautiful not because of makeup and
other accessories. Our bodies become beautiful from the inside when there is
selfless love and giving of oneself so that others may live. What particular
sacrament reminds us of this reality?
JESUS
GIVES US HIS BODY AND BLOOD IN THE SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST. Every
time we go to mass, we do not only profess our faith
that Jesus offered His physical body. The physical body of Christ
experienced by the apostles is no longer with us. Jesus already ascended into
heaven. But in every celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Jesus is really present
in his Sacramental body. When we mean to say sacramental body, it is through
the signs and symbols that Jesus becomes really present. Because when the
priest says the words
of consecration over the bread and wine, the bread ceases to become bread. The wine ceases to become wine. The bread and
wine become the very body and blood of Christ. That is why whenever we receive communion,
the priest or lay minister does not say “This is the symbol of Christ.” The
priest and lay minister rather clearly says, “The Body of Christ.” We affirm it
by saying “Amen.” What we receive is not just ordinary bread. It is the real
Body of Christ. But why does Jesus give us His Body in the Eucharist?
JESUS
GIVES HIS BODY AND BLOOD FOR OUR OWN NOURISHMENT. I remember
this conversation I had with a young guy who asked me this question: “Father,
why do we have to go to mass every Sunday? To tell you honestly, I have already
stopped going to mass these past weeks. And I do not feel motivated to go to
mass again.” I told this young guy, “We go to mass every Sunday to feed our
souls. Just as our body needs food to live, our soul also needs food to live.
What happens if you stop feeding your soul? Your soul becomes malnourished,
unhealthy and exposed to dangers.”
Notice that in
our gospel today, before Jesus fed the people with food for their body, Jesus
first gave them spiritual food. Jesus first taught them about the kingdom of
God and the people were so eager to listen. Their spiritual hunger led them to
stay and listen to Jesus all day until sunset. This is what the Sacrament of
the Holy Eucharist seeks to satisfy in us – our spiritual hunger. Remember that
Jesus in the feeding of the five thousand did not intend to institute the sacrament
of the feeding program. Jesus intended to institute the Sacrament of the
Eucharist because Jesus wanted to satisfy not only their physical hunger but
also their spiritual hunger.
As we later on
receive communion, let us remember that what we receive is not just ordinary
bread. What we receive in communion is the broken but beautiful body of Jesus.
He is the food that nourishes our souls. He is the food that strengthens us to
make our bodies “beautiful” by imitating the selfless love of Jesus who gives
life to all of us. Amen.
