The Eucharistic Wonder!
On this Sunday, the Church celebrates the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). The Body and Blood of Jesus is a very precious gift to humanity. It celebrates the coming together of heaven and earth. It gives humanity the chance to share in the food of the angels.
We have twenty of our children who are going to partake of this food for the first time in their lives today. I have had the opportunity to ask couple of them as to how excited they were to receive Jesus under the sacramental signs for the first time. One said that she was excited and the other said that she has got ready her dress and is looking forward to this day. We congratulate them all and pray that they may have an awesome experience of welcoming Jesus into their hearts. We also thank their parents for offering their children with this invaluable gift and the sacramental program team for their hard work.
The Eucharist derived from the Greek eucharistia for “thanksgiving” is the central act of Catholic worship. When Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper, he spoke of his Body about to be given for us and of his Blood to be shed for the forgiveness of sins, that is, he was anticipating in a way the offering he would make of himself on the cross the next day.
The death of Jesus on the cross was the culminating point of the Eucharistic sacrifice, the most perfect sacrifice that was ever offered. Through it, Jesus established the New Covenant which the prophets had announced, signing it in his blood. The body of Jesus was really broken, and the blood of Jesus was really shed for the world. Thus, completing what he had foretold the previous night. Every Mass, every Eucharistic celebration, therefore, is about the Body and Blood of Christ.
Let us consider ourselves fortunate when together with the priest presiding over the Eucharist, we can present to the Father in heaven with the sacrifice of his own Son and are privileged to share in the food of the angels. May every Eucharistic celebration as St. Teresa of Calcutta says help us to realise how much Jesus loves each of us now!
O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and thanksgiving, be every moment Thine. Amen.
Fr Joy
