Saturday, June 17, 2006
Solemnity, Body and Blood of Christ
June 18, 2006
Solemnity, Body and Blood of Christ - B
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."
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.
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.
REFLECTION
Is the Eucharist meant to be kept and adored, or is it meant to be a
celebration to be shared among the followers of Jesus?
Two articles published in America magazine present two views on the
meaning of today's Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.
The title of the first article - "Adoro Te Devote" ( Devoutly I Adore
Thee)- was taken from the hymn Thomas Aquinas composed in honor of this
feast when it was instituted in the 13th century. Writer Amy Florian
asks what happened in history? Eucharistic adoration developed in the
13th century. And it has continued to the present day. Sometimes it
means silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. At
other times it means the benediction with the Blessed Sacrament, or a
solemn procession, where incense is used, hymns are sung.
How did this adoration of the Sacred Host begin? It was the result of
disputes (from the 8th to the 13th century) as to the real nature of
Christ's divine presence.
What else was going on during these seven centuries of dispute? The
separation of people from clergy in celebration of the Mass, the
language of Latin prevailed, while more people were speaking vernacular
tongues, communion became rare. Florian says that "rather than the
meal, or the reception of the Sacrament, the ultimate moment of the
Mass became the Elevation of the Host." She sums it up by saying, "The
host thus became objectified, a thing separate from the context of the
meal and the community, an untouchable sacred object to be worshipped."
The author summarizes: "Thus Christ's body is not only on the table,
but at the table. Christ is to be worshipped. But Christ is also to be
received, broken and shared for the salvation of the world."
In the second article - "Changing Elements or People?" - writer F.
Gerard Martin insists that "Jesus did not institute the Eucharist to
change bread and wine into his body and blood, but to change us into
his body. The Mass is not meant to transform elements but to transform
people. When Jesus said, 'Behold I am with you always, until the end of
the world,' Jesus was not referring to his real presence in the
Eucharist; he was referring to his real presence in his people, the
members of his body."
Both authors agree strongly on the social dimension or "people" of the
Eucharist. Florian writes: "A Christian who is intensely concerned that
the consecrated host not be left alone in the chapel must, therefore,
also be concerned about the homeless people alone in the streets. Those
who reverence Christ's presence in the host must also reverence
Christ's presence in human bodies." Even so, she is far more willing
than the other critic to accept the place of adoration and piety that
surrounds the Blessed Sacrament, considering it both genuine and
needed.
Perhaps both approaches to the Eucharist should be preserved; one
should lead to the other. Thus Christ in the tabernacle, or the Blessed
Sacrament, represents Christ in us, and through us in the world. This
history of Corpus Christi indicates our attempt to understand the
loving God, who has become present to us in Jesus Christ. May the fruit
of that presence shine forth through us for the salvation of the world.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
- for the speedy recovery of Aida
- for the speedy recovery of Cadio
- for the eternal repose of the soul of Jesus Milla. Eternal rest
grant unto him and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he and
all the souls of the dearly departed rest in peace.
- for the speedy and full recovery of Charles Co Ching To.
- for the eternal repose of the soul of Arceli Dominque Lopez
Pasague. Eternal rest grant unto her and may perpetual light shine
upon her. May she and all the souls of the dearly departed rest in
peace.
- for the personal intentions of Jose Rigor.
- for the speedy recovery of Ding Vidanes.
- for the personal intentions of Gini Hernandez.
- for the personal intentions of the Delos Reyes Family.
- for the good health of the parents of J. San Juan.
- for the speedy recovery of Antonio O. Tansingco.
- for the eternal repose of the soul of Gerry Kamus. Eternal rest
grant unto him and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he and
all the souls of the dearly departed rest in peace.
- for the personal intentions of Jose Rigor.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Prayer Intention: George & Esperanza Lee
- Wedding Anniversary: Dante & Mariza Ceсido
- for the eternal repose of soul of Raymond Alexander Ronald
- for the grace to know and do the will of God for Corie
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "DAILY-HOMILY" group.
To subscribe email: dailyhomily@gmail.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Daily_Homily-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Daily_Homily
HOME: http://www.stjosephkingston.org/
Feel free to forward this to your frie nds, family and associates!
© 2006 Daily-Homily
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
