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

 

Genesis 14:18-20; Psalm 110:1.2.3.4; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Luke 9:11-17.

“THE EUCHARIST: THE FOOD FOR THE FAMILY AND FOR THE MEETING”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide

·       Today, we celebrate the solemnity of Corpus Christi, which is the most holy body and blood of Christ. Today, we celebrate one of the most distinctive features of our Catholic faith. The Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian faith. It is the highest sacrifice and the highest prayer of the church. That is why the church celebrates the Holy Eucharist with great reverence and devotion. We cannot have any serious celebration in the church without beginning with the Holy Mass.

·       Today is our opportunity to renew our faith commitment to the Most Holy Eucharist. To reawaken in us the consciousness of the inestimable riches of grace contained therein. During one of the most outstanding teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ about the Holy Eucharist, he said, among other things, “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood you will not have life in you" (John 6:53). Furthermore, our Lord said: "my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink” (John 6:55).

·       The first reading (Gen. 14:18-20) is one of the oldest accounts of the offering of bread and wine, which was prayed upon by the priest of God, Melchizedek. It is this bread and wine offered by Melchizedek which is transformed into the body and blood of Christ, which we celebrate today. It means that we cannot separate the Holy Eucharist from the Priesthood

·       The second reading (1 Cor. 11:23-26), which is indeed the oldest account of the institution of the Holy Eucharist, states that Christ himself instituted his body and blood as our eternal food. By the prayer of consecration over mere bread and mere wine, it became his body and blood. He also instituted the priesthood to continually make present his body and blood among us, for our sanctification and eternal nourishment.

·       On a day like this, we recall that usually in most families, when things start going wrong and everyone does whatever he or she wants or when there is strife in the family, parents would call for a family meeting to quickly address those issues. Those who are doing well are encouraged, and those who need improvement are told to do so, so that harmony and progress can return to the family.

·       The solemnity of Corpus Christi is also an opportunity for us Catholics to call for a family meeting of the children of God, to address some of the embarrassing attitudes we put forth about the Most Holy Eucharist. We have become used to receiving the body and blood of Christ, and we have become used to attending Mass, so that we now do these without any reverence or fear of God.

·       The wonderful feast we celebrate this Sunday, Corpus Christi, the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, gives us a chance, not only to profess our faith in the awe, beauty, and majesty of the Holy Eucharist, but to ask ourselves if we are getting a bit sloppy and careless in our approach to this sacred mystery.

·       Here are the facts: Jesus Christ is really and truly present in the Holy Eucharist. Every time we come to Mass, we renew His Last Supper with His apostles—a sacred meal—and His offering of Himself for us on the cross—a Holy Sacrifice. When we receive Him in Holy Communion, we are as close to Him as we can get on this side of heaven. And when we gaze upon Him in the monstrance or the tabernacle, we believe He’s there.

·       To show our love and reverence for this mystery of our faith, we Catholics foster traditional practices of piety, which also keep us from taking the Holy Eucharist for granted or losing the sense of awe and reverence that this Blessed Sacrament deserves. In other words, we have certain safeguards against getting sloppy or too familiar with the Holy Eucharist! This solemnity is a good time to recall and renew them.

·       Church discipline asks that we fast from all foods and drink, except water, an hour before Mass. Only those who are sick or taking care of the sick are allowed to eat. But now what do we see, people take that for granted and even eat food and soft drinks while the mass is going on. Some people shamelessly chew gum in the church during mass, and if they are allowed, they will even receive the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ while chewing gum.

·       If we are aware of any serious sin that would rupture Communion with Jesus and His Church, we would make a good confession before receiving the Eucharist. This tradition, too, we have swept under the carpet. Receiving communion has become a show, so as not to be seen as a sinner if you remain in the pew. People quickly join the queue even when they are conscious of mortal sin. We must remember that “he who eats and drinks the body and blood of Christ unworthily eats and drinks condemnation upon himself”.

·       Before entering the church for Mass, we would genuflect to the Real Presence of Christ in the tabernacle; how many of us still do that? Genuflection in the church has become old-fashioned and obsolete. After all, Jesus is our mate and will understand. And we enter the church in such a shabby and disrespectful manner. What we will not dare do if we come home and our father is sitting in the sitting room. Dear friends, it is Jesus Christ we are talking about here, show some reverence!

·       We would dress appropriately for Mass, at least in clean, modest clothes, if not our “Sunday best”. I have been blacklisted for always hammering on the dress code before the Most High God. People now want to dress as they are, or as they want to, before the Holy of Holies.

·       You cannot do that; there is no negotiation, we must dress well and appropriately when coming to church. You are careful about the clothing you wear for an interview or to the office. But about the clothing, you wear to the church, anything goes. Dearly beloved, we must be careful not to incur the wrath of God by our careless attitudes. The fear of God must always come before the fear of man. I challenge every parent to this responsibility. But how can you correct someone when you are as guilty as the person you are correcting? We need a change of heart!

·       Conscious of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, a tone of silent reverence would dominate in the Church. This, too, is a painful experience for me. The church, which was once serene and quiet for intimate communion with God in prayer, has become a market square. Friends now sit together in the same pew to finish the discussion they did not finish before Mass. People now find the church a conducive place to tweet, Facebook and WhatsApp, while the celebration of the Holy Mass is going on. Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand!

·       Now people are habitual in coming late for mass without any remorse and leaving before the final blessing. You want the mass to finish on time so that you can rush home to what? Yet you come late. It is the presence of God we are in when we come for mass, and we should savour and enjoy it because in the presence of God there is the fullness of Joy.

·       Just before receiving Holy Communion, we would prepare especially by reciting the “Lamb of God” and “Lord, I am not worthy...” with sincerity, how many of us still do that? The reception of the Holy Communion is now a routine rather than a devotion.

·       Our “Amen” when the minister says, “The Body of Christ,” comes from the heart. It is a faith affirmation that I truly believe that Jesus is truly present in this sacred species we have come to receive. This day, it must be a fight before we open our mouths to respond “Amen!” Even when we say it, do we mean it?

·       The Holy Mass is a communal prayer; it is the highest prayer of the church because Christ is made present in the form of bread and wine through the action of the priest using the words of consecration. Our participation at Mass should be active, not passive: we recite the prayers and try our best to sing; we listen attentively to God’s Word. The Mass is not for the priest alone; it is for all of us, both the living and the dead.

·       On this celebration of the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, let us renew our faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Let this renewed faith inspire and move us to come to Church every Sunday full of joy and eagerness, and to make our Eucharistic celebrations meaningful, lively, and truly pleasing in God’s eyes.

·       Therefore, we are duty-bound, first, to prepare ourselves properly. This means, among others, going to Confession, wearing the appropriate clothes, punctuality, a one-hour Eucharistic fast, and removing all possible sources of distractions. Second, we are also duty-bound to actively and meaningfully participate in the celebration. Only then will we be able to receive Jesus worthily in Holy Communion. Then the Mass ceases to be boring and dry. It truly becomes for us the source and the summit of our life as Christians.

·       May God give us the grace to continue to value his gift to us, in Blessed Sacrament and food for our sanctification, and nourishment, both now and forever. Amen!

·       Happy Sunday!!!