Homily For The Solemnity Of The Most Holy Body And Blood Of Christ (Corpus Christi) Year B.

Exodus 24:3-8; Psalm 116:12-13.15-18; Hebrews 9:11-15; Mark 14:12-16.22-26.

“THE EUCHARISTIC ALTAR AND DOING THE WILL OF GOD!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·      Today the church celebrates the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ – Corpus Christi. Today we areallowed to reflect on our identity as Catholics which is the Holy Eucharist. The Holy Eucharist is the true body and blood of Jesus Christ truly present at the altar under the appearance of bread and wine.

·      The Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith as a church and as a Christian people. Take away the Holy Eucharist from the church, the church is stripped naked and reduced to any kind of roadside church.

·      The Eucharist is our identity, it is what makes us a catholic church, founded and instituted by Christ himself. The Eucharist was instituted on the night of the last supper and it is closely tied to the sacred priesthood because there can be no priesthood without the Eucharist and vice versa.

·      In the institution of the Holy Eucharist, Christ offers us himself – his body and blood in the sacramental species of bread and wine. And he is truly and fully present in the Holy Eucharist by the invocation of a validly ordained priest using the proper words of consecration.

·      By the power of God, at the consecration, the substance of bread and wine is changed into the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ whole and entire even though it still retains its physical properties. This is what is called Transubstantiation.

·      Friends in Christ, beyond the catechesis on the body and blood of Christ, the church wants us to re-evaluate our faith, belief, and devotion to the Holy Eucharist. What does the Eucharist mean to us and what is our disposition towards the reception of the Eucharist?

·      Today we particularly reflect on the theme “the Eucharistic altar and doing the will of God”. The first reading (Exodus 24:3-8), gives us one of the earliest pointers to what will later metamorphose into the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

·      In the first reading, Moses tells the people of the law and ordinances of God which God had commanded them to keep. And the people chorused “All that the Lord has commanded, we will do” (Ex. 24:7).

·      In response to the people’s commitment to the commandment of God, Moses built an altar at the foot of the mountain in honour of the Lord with twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Sacrifices and burnt offerings were offered to God. Moses made a covenant between the people and God ratified by the blood of the lamb.

·      The Eucharist then becomes for us a public worship, a sacrifice, an act of allegiance to God. It is our act of thanksgiving to God and within the context of that thanksgiving too, having reflected on the word of God read out to us, we too commit like the people of Israel to obey them and to keep them. How many of those commitments do we keep and put into practice?

·      In the second reading (Hebrews 9:11-15), the author in talking about the Holy Eucharist, underlines the fact that Christ is both the offering and the offerer in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The blood sprinkled by Moses in the first reading was not enough to pay the price for our sins. Hence, Christ offered himself once and for all his blood on the cross of Calvary for our sins which is the same sacrifice as that of the Holy Mass.

·      When the priest celebrates the Holy Mass and consecrates the Holy Eucharist, he ministers on the altar “In persona Christi” – in the name of Christ, as “altar Christus” – another Christ. He draws strength and authority from the priesthood of Christ himself.

·      In the gospel reading (Mark 14:12-16.22-26), Jesus shows us that through the offering of himself in the Eucharist, he replaces the sacrifice of the blood of the lamb which was inadequate for the salvation of mankind. It was replaced with the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.

·      In the celebration of the Passover, Jesus gave us his body and blood by actually saying “Take; this is my body” (Mk. 14:22), “this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God” (Mk:14:24). Jesus offers us his real body and blood in the sacrifice of the mass, we must appreciate it and regard it as such.

·      Dearly beloved, as we celebrate the awesome gift of God to us in the Holy Eucharist, we must ask ourselves the following questions:

-       How is my devotion to the Holy Eucharist?

-       Do I receive Jesus in the state of grace?

-       What is my disposition towards the celebration of the Holy Eucharist?

-       Do I believe in what I receive?

-       Do I live a life expected of one who has received Jesus?

·      The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. We draw strength and vigour to face life challenges. The Eucharist gives us life and unites us together. On a day like this as Catholics, we must cherish this gift of the Eucharist, cherish it, profess it.  And how do we do this? We must like the people of Israel say, “All that the Lord has commanded we will do” (Ex. 24:7).

·      May the good Lord bless his word in our hearts through Christ our Lord, Amen!

·      Happy Sunday!!!