Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ
For over two thousand years, the Church has been inviting us to reenact and celebrate the Lord's last supper with his disciples. Some of us take part in the celebration everyday
The message is that as often as we eat this bread and drink the cup, we remember Jesus Christ and we proclaim his death. Saint Paul says, "The Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you." In the same way he also took the cup, after supper saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this in remembrance of me.""
However, remembering is not merely recalling something that happened in the life of Jesus but also consciously recognizing and affirming the significance of the Lord Jesus Christ and his sacrifice. It is important for us, therefore, to remember what Christ has done for us and proclaim it to others. This message is not something Paul made up, but as he says, "received from the Lord", as if he received the message directly from the Lord. He had not seen Jesus or talked to Jesus or listened to Jesus or heard him but after he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, he had no hesitation in believing all that Jesus had said including what Jesus said in the midst of his last meal with his disciples - This is my body and this my blood. If you eat my body and drink my blood, you'll have eternal life. We call ourselves Christians. We profess our faith in him. We hear or read His Word. How best do we honor the Lord Jesus and his message today? How can we tell others, if we ourselves, do not recognize or affirm our faith in his sacrifice?
If we truly believe in the power of his sacrifice and hope to enjoy forever the fullness of grace through the Holy Eucharist then let us do the following:
As you enter the church, bow your head to the Lord Jesus. From then on your focus must be on only one thing, i.e., the Lord Jesus and not on other people and things. During worship, avoid talking to your neighbors, cuddling your spouse or the children who are old enough to understand the significance of the celebration. Infants and little children of course need to be taken care of.
Humbly acknowledge your unworthiness and all your sins, mortal and venial, big and small. Do not leave any of your sins unconfessed.
Listen to and not just hear, to the word of God or the readings of the day.
Tell the Lord Jesus to talk to you. Humbly surrender to him all your intentions.
Show great reverence for the Lord Jesus at the time of consecration of the bread and wine. Join the priest in offering your whole life along with the bread and wine.
Truly reconcile with your neighbor, the person next to you or behind you and God at the time of the rite of peace. If you are not humble enough to share peace with the strangers who have not any offence against you how can you make peace with those in the family who may have offended you.
Be prepared to receive communion with your hands and mouth clean. Avoid chewing gum during worship.
When you come forward for communion avoid disrespect. Make a reverent bow when the person before you is receiving the body of Jesus. When the priest or Eucharistic minister holds up the body of Jesus and says, The Body of Christ, respond humbly and gratefully with "Amen" which means, Yes, I believe, it is so. Do not say, "Thank you / God bless you."
Come to the church at least five minutes before the celebration begins and prepare yourself spiritually for this wonderful celebration.
Finally, be present for the whole celebration. Refrain from leaving the Church with the communion still in your mouth.
This way when you honor Christ, the grace of Christ the Lord will be poured out on you generously.
I wish us all a very happy feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.