Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, (Corpus Christi), June 10, 2007

Scripture: Genesis 14:18-20. Psalm 110. I Corinthians 11:23-26. Luke
9:11-17. Lectionary # 170:

Today's celebration of the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
(Corpus Christi) is based on the events of Holy Thursday and on the texts
that refer to the Institution of the Eucharist. Jesus, as Paul writes in
the earliest recording of these words, takes the unleavened bread and the
cup of wine and says, "This is my body that is for you! This cup is the new
covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of
me." (I Cor. 11:23-26). These events and words were prefigured, so to
speak, in the miracle of the loaves and the fish which are multiple in
their attestation to the fact that Jesus TOOK, BLESSED, BROKE, AND GAVE
enough for all to eat and be satified. There were baskets of food left
over. These recordings of the Evangelists may refer to one such feeding
but there are these six written accounts of it (see Mark 6:32-44 and Mark
8:1-10; Matthew 14:13-21; Matthew 15:32-39; Luke 9:11-17; John 6:1-15). It
is Paul, however, who gives us the words of the Institution of the
Eucharist as early as 57 A.D.). In a remarkable passage found in I
Corinthians 5: 6-8: "Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the
dough? Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of
dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened. FOR OUR PASCHAL LAMB CHRIST HAS BEEN
SACRIFICED. Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast,
the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the bread of sincerity and
truth." Henri Nouwen explained the Gospel text in a sermon given in
California at the Crystal Palace. He interpreted the words Jesus TOOK as
referring to our unique call from God to be a chosen one of God's People.
Then the word BLESS means all of the great gifts we have been given as
individuals and persons belonging to a community or family; the word BROKE
is where we feel the pain of the crucifixion and of the Paschal Lamb--it is
here where we are broken. Our relationships in marriage, in community, in
family are often where this pain occurs and it is a true sharing in the
sufferings and even death of Jesus as signified in his broken body. We
then take this brokeness and give it as a BLESSING back to the Lord. At
the end of the day, we recall these words and see where we have been taken
or called, where we have been blessed, then broken and given back to the
Giver of Life. Have we given more of ourselves, or poured out ourselves
for other? Have we given all of ourselves as food and drink for others? If
so, we have produced much fruit in becoming one as Eucharist with Jesus in
his precious body and blood. Amen.