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June 6, 1999
Today's Feastday, The Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)
Today is the Solemnity of The Body and Blood of Christ on this Sunday in
the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time. When we celebrate the Eucharist, we
celebrate this mysterious presence of the Lord Jesus with community. Open up
to make "Communion" possible. "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will
live in me and I in him, says the Lord."
During the time of affliction in the desert, God took care of his people
and gave them the basics they needed, water and bread. But the writer of
Deuteronomy, meditating on the desert experience of his people, lets Moses
indicate that God intended more than just taking care of physical needs. "He
[God] ...fed you with manna... in order to show you that not by bread alone
does man live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God."
Paul does not want the Christians of Corinth to take part in pagan
sacrifices to which relatives may invite them. We have our passover sacrifice,
the body and blood of Christ. Notice that in Biblical language, "body and
blood" do not indicate the things as such but the whole person and the event
which they signify, namely, Jesus Christ giving himself in his meritorious
death, in which we share when we partake in the Eucharist.
Every time we partake in the Eucharistic celebration, we should enter a
more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Notice again that the words
"flesh, body, blood" stand for the person! "The man who feeds on my flesh
and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him," and through that continuous
encounter with our Lord, such persons will have real life, life everlasting.
Today's Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
you gave us the eucharist
as the memorial of your suffering and death.
May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood
help us to experience the salvation you won for us
and the peace of the kingdom
where you live with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Spiritual Communion Prayer
Please join us with this prayer in asking the Lord Jesus to be with you.
Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You are in the Blessed Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I long for you in my soul.
Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I know You have already come.
I embrace You and unite myself entirely to You;
never permit me to be separated from You.
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