SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF Christ C: CORPUS CHRISTI

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HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO YOU?

Jn 9:11-17

 


 

A priest laments that since the church opening after Covid restrictions, only a few of his parishioners went back to Sunday Mass. I heard the same observation from a choir member who sings in the church. And in an interview, the former bishop of Brunei, Cardinal Cornelius Sim complained that few of their parishioners returned after the lockdowns, making him doubt whether his flock had a solid faith or strong formation.

 

In the gospel today, we read about the multiplication of loaves. Hunger satisfied, longing satiated, need fulfilled. This is how the Lord Jesus loves and cares for the people who hope in him. This is how he far he will go to show them, not the power of manipulating loaves and fish, but the power of serving his brothers and sisters. If need be, he will work a miracle for each one.

 

However, more than serving the needs of people, the Lord Jesus is offering even deeper, meaningful and significant. The Lord is offering his friendship, his closeness, his relationship. Through him, God the Father wants to embrace all his children. Through him, the Holy Spirit wants to reach hearts and minds. In Jesus’ Body and Blood offered at the Last Supper, at the Cross, and now in the Eucharist, God is offering us the food of relationship, the drink of unity with him forever.

 

The people in Jesus’ time did not fully understand this. They saw only bread and wanted even more of it for their physical needs. Today what do we see? Do we see that televised or livestream Masses are enough for us to be considered part of the living Body of Christ, the Church? Do we feel more comfortable watching the Mass while cooking, eating, or lying in bed?

 

Isn’t it puzzling that people can easily dismiss going physically to church to receive the Lord, to be close to the Lord and to be united with their brothers and sisters in faith? Do we make the same excuse if we are to go the mall to enjoy ourselves, or to school to learn new things, or to the office or factory in order to earn a living?

 

All these boil down to one thing – understanding and fully knowing what we believe, who we believe in.  I asked myself the same question. What is the Eucharist for me today? Is it just a ceremony? Just an obligation? Is it dispensable? Or is it Jesus, plain and simple, who is inviting me to a living relationship with him? Let us spend these days asking the same questions…

 

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