Corpus Christi 2021

The WORD today reminds me how blessed I am with our faith. 

As we commemorate the Feast of Corpus Christi, or the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (especially that it is alive in the Holy Eucharist) we are reminded how blessed we are in our faith. 

In the second reading, we see how Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist. He said the bread is his body, and the wine is his blood. We are reminded to do it in remembrance of Jesus. We are reminded that as we partake of Him, so should we proclaim him as well. 

There is a story of a protestant and a catholic talking. The protestant asked the catholic: "is it true that in your religion, you believe that the Eucharist is the actual body and blood of Christ?" To which the catholic answered yes. Then the protestant said: "wow. If that were the case in our religion, I would do anything to receive him everyday!"

This story struck me. Sometimes we actually do not realize how blessed we are in our belief in the Holy Eucharist. As Catholics, we believe that it is the actual Body and Blood of Christ, not just a representation of it! Even if Jesus is not physically with us anymore, he is till very much alive and real in the presence of the Holy Eucharist. That is what God wants us to have. This is how God makes his presence alive and real in our lives. Isn't that amazing?! Isn’t it enough reason to want to receive him daily?

Everytime we attend mass, we have the opportunity to partake of it. To be one with him. As we consume the Holy Eucharist, it is actually God who consumes us. If we are in the proper disposition as we receive it, God will slowly transform us and consume us. We can slowly be transformed to become more and more like Him. We just need to make the decision to accept him and allow him to transform us. 

For more than a year now, at least for a lot of us, we have not been able to receive Christ in the Holy Eucharist. We have not been on an actual mass due to the pandemic. However, even if we cannot receive him physically, we still have faith in him and his power. He is still with us. He is still guiding us. And we should just continue and do our best to live pleasing to him, so we can prepare ourselves for the time we can receive him physically again. 

What is the significance of the Holy Eucharist for me? Do I believe that it is the actual body and blood of Christ? Do I make the most out of it? Am I willing to accept Christ in my life and allow him to take control of my life? How do I prepare myself to receive Him?

May we have a renewed love for the Holy Eucharist, and may we do our part to spiritually prepare ourselves as we receive Him, so it will be easier for him to change us and to consume us. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for sending your only Son to die for me. Thank you for loving me however unworthy I am. Thank you for a very beautiful gift of the Holy Eucharist. I am sorry for not making the most out of it. Sorry for being contented to receive you only on Sundays. Sorry for not preparing myself to receive you. Awaken me Lord. I pray that I would always remember the importance and power of the Holy Eucharist. May I always do my best and prepare to receive you each time I hear mass. Give me the heart and the desire to always be thirsty for you and make the most out of the Eucharist. As I receive you, I ask that you consume me and transform me to become more like you. Since it has been months since I received you, help me live right as I prepare myself to receive you again once things are better. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2015/06/corpus-christi-2015.html

June 06, 2021

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ; St. Norbert

---

FIRST READING

Exodus 24:3–8

When Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all answered with one voice, “We will do everything that the LORD has told us.” Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and, rising early the next day, he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD, Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, “All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do.” Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of his.”

---

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 116:12–13, 15–16, 17–18 (13)

R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord. or R. Alleluia. 

How shall I make a return to the LORD for all the good he has done for me? The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the LORD. 

R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord. or R. Alleluia. 

Precious in the eyes of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones. I am your servant, the son of your handmaid; you have loosed my bonds. 

R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord. or R. Alleluia. 

To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the LORD. My vows to the LORD I will pay in the presence of all his people. 

R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord. or R. Alleluia.

---

SECOND READING

Hebrews 9:11–15

Brothers and sisters:
When Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer’s ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God. 

For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant: since a death has taken place for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant, those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.

---

ALLELUIA

John 6:51

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

---

GOSPEL

Mark 14:12–16, 22–26

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. 

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.