Each year we are reminded in a special way about the love of the Lord for us in the solemnity of the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. The holy sacrifice of the mass and our participation in receiving the Body and Blood each Sunday is remembered and celebrated in a special way this day.
In the Catechism paragraph 1381 we hear from two great saints these words of wisdom about the Eucharist: “That in this sacrament are the true Body of Christ and his true Blood is something that ‘cannot be apprehended by the senses,’ says St. Thomas, ‘but only by faith, which relies on divine authority.’ For this reason, in a commentary on Luke 22:19 (‘This is my body which is given for you.’), St. Cyril says: ‘Do not doubt whether this is true, but rather receive the words of the Savior in faith, for since he is the truth, he cannot lie.'”
Our faith teaches that each time we come to mass, at the words of consecration, remembering takes place when we hear the words of Jesus repeated and reenacted in the sacrifice of the mass.
In the sacrament of the Eucharist Jesus gives us his love in a beautiful way by sacrificing his body and blood for us. This should mean so much to us as Catholic Christians that we should desire to receive the Eucharist as often as possible.
On Sunday we are able to receive the body and blood, and we should do so. We need to eat and drink each day, don’t we? So why not receive both species at mass as often as possible, when both species are available for us?
The Eucharist is also food and drink for our daily journey in life. Today we might wonder why some of our family members no longer come to mass and why they don’t realize what they are missing. Invite them back to mass and back to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus next Sunday.
We pray that today we will leave after mass, refreshed by what we have received and be more prepared than ever to share our faith in the Eucharist with everyone that we encounter this week and for the rest of our lives.
Rev. Bob Pope
Parochial Vicar