SUNDAY HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (CORPUS CHRISTI) – YEAR B

SUNDAY HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (CORPUS CHRISTI) – YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: EUCHARIST : THE FOOD OF IMMORTALITY

BY: Fr. Isaac Awe

EXODUS 24:3-8; HEBREWS 9:11-15; MARK 14:12-16; 22-26

Maurice Hogan in his book titled, “The Four Gospels” asserts that, “The promises made in the Old Testament is being fulfilled in the New Testament”. Hence, like the whole of the Old Testament this was a representation and a preparation for the real , the New Testament, the New Covenant which God was to make not only with Abraham’s descendants, but the whole human race through Christ.

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To us, Christ has opened his own heavenly Kingdom and has given us all the necessary means to merit it. He has guaranteed us an eternal happiness. He has given us as our leader his own divine son. The sacrifice with which we can show our reverence and gratitude to him is not a token. It is a sacrifice which gives God full honour and glory, for it is the sacrifice of his own beloved Son. Therefore, the receiving of the Body and Blood of Christ is an essential sequence to the offering of Christ in the sacrifice of the Mass. Jesus Christ becomes present on our altars to re-enact the sacrifice of Calvary and also to be our spiritual nourishment.

Do we celebrate the Passover with sincerity and truth ( 1 Cor. 5:7-8)? Every male Jew, who was of age and lived within 15 miles of Jerusalem, was bound to celebrate Passover every year in Jerusalem. This annual feast commemorated the deliverance of the people of Israel from their slavery in Egypt ( Exodus 12). On that night the angel of death slew the first-born of the Egyptians; but he “passed over” the homes of the Israelites, because the lintel of their doors was smeared with the blood of an unblemished lamb sacrificed for the occasion. It was at Passover time that Jesus came to Jerusalem knowing he would be betrayed and put to death as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus fulfilled the Passover. His death and resurrection, which occurred at Passover time, redeems us from enslavement to sin, death, Satan, and the world. His blood, like the blood of the first Passover lamb, protects God’s people from the angel of death and breaks the oppressive rule of Satan. Easter is the Christian Passover (1 Cor. 5:7-8).

As Jesus ate the Passover meal with his twelve apostles he put them under trial and suspicion (“one of you will betray me”) to teach them to examine themselves rightly, lest they be high-minded and think themselves more strong than they were. We, also must examine ourselves in the light of God’s truth and grace and ask him to strengthen us in faith, hope, and love that we may not fail him or forsake him when we are tempted. Do we pray with confidence in the words Jesus gave us to pray: Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil?

For those who feel they are seriously unworthy to receive Christ in the Holy Communion, the merciful means of obtaining forgiveness is within easy reach. For those who feel unworthy of such an honour because of minor faults and failings committed during the week, a heart -felt of love of God will cleanse them of such minor faults and failings. God is the God of love and mercy. His presence in the sacrifice and sacrament of the Eucharist is proof of this. Let us strive to be always ready to welcome him into our hearts when he is present with us on our altars.

PRAYER: God our Father, we are exceedingly frail and indisposed to every virtuous and gallant undertaking. Strengthen our weakness, we beseech you, that we may do valiantly in this spiritual war; help us against our own negligence and cowardice, and defend us from the treachery of our unfaithful hearts; for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen (Prayer of Thomas a Kempis)

Happy Sunday!

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