HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI by FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

Commentary on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi

This feast is celebrating the religious belief in the Body and Blood of Christ and real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. This feast is celebrated on the Sunday after Trinity Sunday to commemorate the institution of the Eucharist. An Augustinian nun Juliana of Liege had a great veneration for the Blessed Sacrament and she wished very much for the institution of a special feast for honoring the Blessed Sacrament. Once she saw a vision of the Church under full moon having a black spot. She thought that the black dark spot signifies the lack of a feast of the Eucharist. Bishop Robert de Thorete, Bishop of Liege was convinced about the vision of Juliana and ordered a feast to be celebrated in his diocese from the year 1247 and celebrated by the Cannons of St. Martins at Liege. Pope Urban-IV published a Papal Bull 'Transiturus' on September 8, 1264 directing to celebrate this feast on the Thursday, after Trinity Sunday. But in countries where this feast is not a Holy Day of obligation including United States, it is celebrated on the Sunday after Trinity Sunday. The new Liturgy for this feast was composed by St. Thomas Aquinas and he also written a hymn to sing on Corpus Christi Day-Pange Lingua Gloriosi Corporis Mysterium and this hymn is being sung on the Holy (Maundy) Thursday during the procession of the Blessed Sacrament. 

This is to express the doctrine of Transubstantiation, in which it is believed that the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. This feast is to show the Church's gratitude to the Christ, who instituted the Holy Eucharist and gave it to the Church, which is the greatest treasure of the Church. Maundy Thursday in which the Holy Eucharist was instituted is not a joyous day due to the Lord's Passion. To celebrate the joyous aspect of Maundy Thursday when the Holy Eucharist was instituted, this feast is celebrated. Eucharist is the sacrament of Life, sacrament of Love, sacrament of Unity and sacrament of Faith. Christ said when instituting the Holy Eucharist. "This is My Body given up for you, this is My Blood shed for you." These are the words of sacrifice for others and love for others.

                  

                    HOMILY

R. 1 Genesis 14:18-20

R. 2 I Corinthians 11: 23-26

Gospel Luke 9:11-17

Theme: "I am the living bread which came down from heaven, says the Lord; if any one eats this bread he will live for ever." ( John 6:51)

Today, we gather to celebrate the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer. 

The three readings for today's liturgy capture the meaning of the Eucharist in three ways:

1. Gift: Which the first reading presents the awesome gifts of bread and wine Milchizedek King of Salem brought before Abraham, a foretaste of the Holy Eucharist.

2. Sacrifice: The second reading portrays the sacrifice Christ made for humanity and then invite us to a common unity through the breaking of the bread.

3. Miracle: Obviously, Eucharist itself is one of the greatest miracles.  A miracle in the sense that, it satisfied our spiritual hunger, as the gospel presented the feeding of the multitude.

In the light of this, the Holy Eucharist is a precious gift from God the Father in the Son through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

As St. Thomas Aquinas in his work "Opusc 57, 1-4" which forms the Second reading of the Office of Readings for this great Solemnity says: 

"For He offered His body to God the Father on the altar of the cross as a sacrifice for our reconciliation: and He shed His blood for our ransom and cleansing, so that we might be redeemed from wretched captivity and cleansed from all sins."

However, the beauty of this celebration is enshrined in the wordings of the sequence, as it reads:

"Man cannot understand this, cannot perceive it; buta lively faith affirms that the change, which is outside the natural course of things, take place. Under the different species, which are now signs only and not their own reality, there lie hid wonderful realities. His body is our food, his blood our drink."

This therefore defined the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist as the hub of all sacraments. For at Baptism we are baptised into this body of Christ with the Holy Eucharist the summit of the faith, Confirmation gives us the unction to live out what we receive, at sacrament of reconciliation we are being prepared to receive it worthily, in anointing of the sick, he is being fed and prepared for the spiritual journey with the Lord. The other two sacraments of service: Holy Order and Matrimony makes one the minister of the Eucharist and create bond between the couples respectively. As we gather round the table of the Eucharist every now and then, let us be ever conscious of the fact that, we are being invited to commune with Christ through our love for one another. For out of love that Christ left for us the memorial of His passion. And He exhort us to do same. Be charitable to one another as He did to the multitude despite the disciple's complain over few bread. And He multiplied the few to many for the satisfaction of the multitude. (cf. Luke 9:11-17) Finally, as we partake in one cup and bread, let us speak language of love so that the fruit of this communion may be seen among us. Peace, be with you. Let us pray Jesus, good shepherd and true bread, have mercy on us; feed us and guard us. Grant that we find happiness in the land of the living. You know all things, can do all things, and feed us here on earth. Make us your guests in heaven, co-heirs with you and companions of heaven's citizens. Amen. © The ARCHIVE           19062022