CORPUS CHRISTI (THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST), B

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A LIVING SACRIFICE

It is so good to see people queing up for Holy Communion. It seems to show how eager these believers are in receiving the Body of Christ, in receiving the Blood of the Lord.

But in reality, for many this is a traditional ritual borne of an ingrained habit. How many people receive Communion just to complete their Mass? How many receive Communion but have no real connection to the “other” Body of Christ around them, their brothers and sisters? How many communicants really have no meaningful relationships with people when they return home?

We say the Mass is not complete without receiving Communion. But Communion is really not complete without sharing in its meaning.  The Body and Blood of Christ signify his sacrifice, his loving self-giving to others.  This was what Jesus had in mind when he took the bread and gave it to his disciples: this is my Body, which will be given up for you… this is the cup of my Blood… for the forgiveness of sins.

For Jesus, this gesture was not intended to be a mere ritual, a sign of personal fulfillment, an end-in-itself of spiritual worship.  It was to be the sign of his commitment to share his life by going through the pains of the Cross.  This would be the way for salvation to unfold in this world, in the person of a man whose life was broken and shared.

In what spirit do you approach the Body and Blood of Christ? If it is just a habit, then it is useless.  If it is just an external ritual, it means nothing.

Ask for the grace to receive the Body of Christ as a sign that you too, are willing to stand by your brothers and sisters in their need for love and care, compassion and mercy, forgiveness and new life. May the Body and Blood you receive make you like Jesus in offering sacrifice to the Father for the people around you.

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