HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI YEAR A.
THEME: The source and summit of the Christian Life.
BY: Fr Justus Oruma.
(a) The Body and Blood of Christ is the Holy Eucharist, which is our spiritual and temporal life, calling to mind His words, “unless you eat and drink my blood, you will not have life in you” (John 6:53). The Eucharist is therefore “the source and summit of the Christian Life” (CCC: 1324). On the Night He was betrayed, Jesus took bread and broke it and then the wine and in THANKSGIVING to His Father said; “Take this all of you and eat of it, this is my Body…” Thus the Eucharist was instituted. It is called Eucharist, from the greek “eukharistia” meaning thanksgiving, for Jesus offered us His Body and Blood in Thanksgiving to God the Father for our salvation.
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(b) Jesus feeds us by sacrificing Himself and by dying for us. The bread was “broken” and served the thousands of people. “They all ate and were satisfied”. The breaking of the bread tells us of Christ the Victim, broken and whose blood was spilt as an offer that we may live. The celebration of the Eucharist is solemn and the highest prayer-offering, being the offer of the Body and Blood of Christ. The priest Melchizedek is identified with bread and wine for blessing and Thanksgiving offering (Gen.14:18), thus prefiguring Jesus Christ who is both the Holy Eucharist and The Priest and from whom all persons ordained priest participate in the one Priesthood in different ways and hierarchies- (secundum ordinem Melchizedek)
(c) From the very first time the Eucharist was eaten, it was prepared for. Jesus told them, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” (Lk. 22:8). He told His Apostles to order the people making them sit in groups. The priest prepares Himself and the people for the Eucharist, for it is not a meal eaten unprepared; it is not celebrated in disordered places, being solemn as it is. What is our attitude to Holy Eucharist and the Holy Mass? We ought to prepare for the Holy Mass, be properly ordered and disposed, punctual and celebrate it with devotion, making earnest effort to receive the Holy Communion free from sin, that is, in the state of grace. “Do this in memory of me” said Jesus. In another place it is said; “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.” How often do you receive the Holy Eucharist. When last did you? It is not a food one eats once and sleeps in sin- otherwise the journey will be too far…, the Angel told prophet Elijah under the pursuit of Jezebel (1Kings 19). Celebrate the Holy Eucharist often, participating in It each time as if it is the FIRST MASS, as if it is the ONLY MASS and as if it is your LAST MASS. (Mother Theresa of Calcutta).
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