SUNDAY HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: COMMUNION WITH THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST!
BY: Fr. Casmir Nkamuke
Deut. 8:2-3, 14-16/ 1 Cor. 10:16-17/ John 6:51-58
Today is a day set apart to mark the solemnity of the sacrifice we celebrate every day at the Holy Mass. On this day, we celebrate God’s gift of himself to us as food and drink. The Eucharist from its Greek etymology means thanksgiving. The Holy Mass is thus a sacrifice that we thank God for giving up his life for our salvation. The readings of today draw our attention to the fact that the goal of our striving should not be for the sake of our material benefits, but for the salvation of our whole being- corporeal and spiritual.
In the first reading, Moses explains to the Israelites that the trials they underwent in the desert were not a sign of God’s absence, but a proof that God’s Word and not bread alone nourishes man. Moses further admonishes that the Israelites do not forget God in their quest for satisfaction.
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Rebuking the elitist class for flaunting their opulence during the agape feast, St. Paul in the second reading informs them that the Eucharist is a Communion that unites the people of God and not an avenue for class segregation.
In the Gospel, Christ warns that we will have no life in us if we refuse to eat his flesh and drink and assures us that whoever partakes of the Holy Communion has eternal life. Implicitly, all our desires lead to nothing if we do not receive him and allow him to dwell in our hearts.
Beloved in the Lord, the Body and Blood of Christ is the source of life and salvation. The Solemnity of today reminds us that we are bound to draw our life from the Eucharist. It is disheartening to watch how the Holy Eucharist is being neglected and desecrated in the world today. Many place little or no value to this sacrifice of Thanksgiving that Jesus gave us as food. While some do not care to receive Jesus from year to year, others receive him unworthy without any qualms of conscience. This sacrifice of Thanksgiving is too precious to be toiled with.
Today´s solemnity also reminds us that our participation in the Eucharistic sacrifice where we break the one bread makes us one Family. As one family, the communion we break should serve as a sacramental expression of the unity that should exist in our homes, in our community, and in the society.
As we thank God for giving us himself as food and drink, may we partake worthily in this Sacred banquet, and live the Eucharistic life of selfless sacrifice and communion!
Happy Corpus Christi Sunday!
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