Reading I: Exodus 24:3-8
Psalm: 116
Reading II: Hebrews 9:11-15
Gospel: Mark 14: 12-16, 22-26
This Corpus Christi procession, in itself, tells us about the journey of life. One
sees Corpus Christi (The Body of Christ) being carried by a priest in honor, accompanied by the people and the Saints represented by the banners with pictures of our Blessed Mother and St. Therese of Lisieux.
Jesus, in his love and generosity, chose to remain with us in a tangible way under the appearances of bread and wine. As we travel through life He is with us. We are accompanied by Him, and one another. Also, we experience the help of His holy mother and saints. How blessed we are!!!
How awesome is our God!!! Either in the tabernacle or monstrance, we can visit with him in a chapel or church. He nourishes and strengthens us when we receive Him in Holy Communion. He renews his offering of himself as our Savior during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. How deeply he loves us!
While the image of a procession helps us to understand our journey in life, a parable (an imaginary story) can also help us to understand the truth about
our lives:
Once upon a time, a baby princess was born and promised in marriage to a young prince in a foreign land. As she was growing up, she never saw him in person, but heard wonderful things about his kindness and care for his people. In those days there was no TV or other ways of seeing him.
When she was old enough to marry, she began a long trip alone to join him. In those days there were no airplanes or other easy means of travel. Therefore, she set out on foot for the long journey. She was happy, but frightened by wild animals, weary from climbing steep hills, and was sometimes very hungry when she could not find fruits or nuts to eat.
After she had traveled a while, a handsome young minstrel came by and offered
to travel with her. With this strong young man at her side, she was no longer frightened. When she became tired and didn’t think she could continue, the minstrel would sit with her and play delightful music. He even found food to give her strength on the journey.
Finally, the minstrel pointed to her destination. It was a beautiful place, but one had to cross a river to get there. The minstrel built a raft so that they could reach the land. As they stepped onto the beautiful grounds, lo and behold, the minstrel dropped his disguise and there she was embraced by her prince. Yes, they lived happily ever after.
The Blessed Sacrament (Corpus Christi) is Jesus with us. However, He is not recognizable for us now. When we are called to our heavenly home, we will see Him in His full glory! How blessed we will be!!!
Reflection Question: How can I show appreciation for the gift of the Blessed Sacrament (Corpus Christi)?
Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...
Fiesta de Corpus Christi
Esta procesión de Corpus Christi, en sí misma, nos habla sobre el viaje de la vida. Uno ve el Corpus Christi (El Cuerpo de Cristo) llevado por un sacerdote en honor, acompañado por el pueblo y los santos representados por los estandartes con imágenes de nuestra Santísima Madre y Santa Teresita de Lisieux.
Jesús, en su amor y generosidad, eligió permanecer con nosotros de manera tangible bajo las apariencias de pan y vino. Mientras viajamos por la vida, Él está con nosotros. Estamos acompañados por Él y los unos a los otros. Además, experimentamos la ayuda de Su santa madre y santos. ¡Qué bendecidos somos!
¡Qué maravilloso es nuestro Dios! Ya sea en el tabernáculo o en la custodia, podemos visitarlo en una capilla o iglesia. Él nos nutre y fortalece cuando lo recibimos en la Sagrada Comunión. Él renueva su ofrenda de sí mismo como nuestro Salvador durante el Santo Sacrificio de la Misa. ¡Cuán profundamente
nos ama!
Si bien la imagen de una procesión nos ayuda a comprender nuestro viaje en la vida, una parábola (una historia imaginaria) también puede ayudarnos a comprender la verdad sobre nuestras vidas:
Cuando tuvo la edad suficiente para casarse, comenzó un largo viaje a solas para unirse a él. En aquellos días no había aviones u otros medios fáciles de viajar.
Por lo tanto, partió a pie para el largo viaje. Estaba feliz, pero asustada por los animales salvajes, cansada de subir colinas empinadas, y a veces tenía mucha hambre cuando no podía encontrar frutas o nueces para comer.
Después de haber viajado un tiempo, un apuesto joven juglar vino y se ofreció a viajar con ella. Con este joven fuerte a su lado, ya no estaba asustada. Cuando
se cansaba y no creía que pudiera continuar, el trovador se sentaba con ella y
tocaba música deliciosa. Incluso encontró comida para darle fuerza en el viaje.
Finalmente, el trovador señaló su destino. Era un lugar hermoso, pero uno
tenía que cruzar un río para llegar allí. El juglar construyó una balsa para que pudieran llegar a la tierra. Cuando salieron a los hermosos jardines, he aquí
que el juglar soltó su disfraz y allí fue abrazada por su príncipe. Sí, vivieron
felices para siempre.
Pregunta de reflexión: ¿Cómo puedo mostrar aprecio por el regalo del Santísimo Sacramento (Corpus Christi)?
In an article entitled, “Ten Ways We Can Grow in Love with the Eucharist,” Fr. Ed. Broom, OMV, recalls the scene of the Last Supper where Jesus, surrounded by His Apostles, “gave to the world the most sublime gift of His Real Presence by instituting the Sacrament of the Eucharist – His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Jesus took bread and pronounced the words: ‘take and eat, this is my Body’; then He took a cup of wine and said: ‘Take and drink, this is my Blood. Do this in memory of me.’ With these words Jesus instituted the greatest of all of the Sacraments, the Sacrament of the most Holy Eucharist.”
ReplyDeleteFr. Broom references the “Bread of Life Discourse” found in the sixth Chapter of the Gospel of John where Jesus states that our very salvation depends on our eating His Body and drinking His Blood. Without doubt, “the greatest action that we can carry out on earth is to receive Jesus into our hearts, minds and souls in Holy Communion.” Fr. Broom writes, “even the angels cannot receive Jesus into themselves in Holy Communion, but we can. For this reason, the angels experience a holy envy towards us!”
As the title of his article indicates, Fr. Broom identifies ten ways we can enhance our devotion to Jesus who is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. I have condensed those methods for you below.
1. Appreciation – Let us never fail to appreciate this most sublime gift of Jesus in Mass and Holy Communion. Receive every Holy Communion as if it were your first, your last and your only Holy Communion!
2. Visit Him Often – One characteristic of true friendship is a desire to visit each other on a frequent basis. Let us visit the Lord often and let Him know that we love him and desire to grow in our love for Him.
3. Spiritual Communion – This practice can be done at any time and in any manner. Simply tell the Lord that you believe in Him and love Him and that you desire that He come and visit your soul.
4. Read about the Mass and the Eucharist – Spiritual reading can help us to grow in our faith, and especially in our love for Jesus present in the most Holy Eucharist. It serves as a stimulus to help us participate more fully, actively and consciously in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and receive Holy Communion with a better disposition.
5. Daily Mass – Jesus told us to pray the Our Father “Give us this day our daily bread.” We take this to be physical bread. However, shrouded within these words is the spiritual interpretation meaning “Jesus, the Bread of Life” in Holy Mass and Holy Communion. Daily Mass, or as frequent as we can do so, nourishes our soul.
6. Confession and Holy Communion – The Light of Jesus is able to radiate His Presence in the soul more fully in the soul that has been purified by sacramental confession.
7. Mass Intentions – We pray for others and for our world, let us remember to include our own personal and private intentions. The Heart of Jesus is pleased to receive our intentions.
8. Active Participation – All too often people are physically present at church but mentally, emotionally and even spiritually absent from the Mass. Sacramental theology teaches that the better our disposition, preparation and participation in the Sacraments, the more abundant will be the flow of Graces.
9. Ask Mary for Her Immaculate Heart –we should ask Mary to give us her Immaculate Heart to receive Jesus with great faith, devotion and love every time we receive Holy Communion.
10. Thanksgiving – Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. All that we have is a gift from God. After Mass spend some time in thanking Jesus for coming to visit the humble abode of your heart.
By carrying out as many of these spiritual practices that we can, our love and reverence for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament will definitely grow.
• This article can be found in its entirety at: https://catholicexchange.com/10-ways-can-grow-love-eucharist.
Pat C., ASBS
What a delightful story! According to the New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia, "the word 'parable' signifies a general comparison, or parallel, by which one thing is used to illustrate another." The tale about the princess certainly is charming, as well as deeply significant.
ReplyDeleteThe following excerpts, relating to the glorious feast of Corpus Christi, are from a homily by Father Allan white, of St. Mary's Parish, El Centro, California:
"In his sequence, 'Lauda Sion,, Salvatoran', St. Thomas speaks of the "Bread of Angels", sent for pilgrims in their banishment. The Eucharist is food for our journey.
In the readings today, a direct connection is made with the original miraculous bread showered on the people of Israel during their pilgrimage of redemption from slavery in Egypt. The manna that rained down from heaven was quite specific where it fell. It was not scattered indiscriminately over the desert, but was gathered from around the tents and in the confines of the camp. The manna separated the people from what surrounded them. It marked them out as having a special identity and the privilege of a special mission. It made them one people. It forged them into one body to become instruments of God's glory."
"The Eucharist is at the heart of the Church. It is the beating heart of the Church. The cardiac cyst is composed of systole and diastole, contraction or concentration and expansion. The Eucharist is dynamic. It draws us together but in order to send us out. The manna ceased to fall when the people crossed the Jordan. It was in anticipation of that life they would enjoy with God in the land. It was food for the journey. The Eucharist is food for our pilgrim journey, which is a procession to the Kingdom. There we shall rest and see. We shall see and love and praise. Behold what will be at the end without end! For what other end do we have, if not to reach the Kingdom which has no end?"
(St. Augustine De Civ., Dei 22,30,5: Pl. 41,804. Deut. 8; 2-3, 14-16. Cor. 10, 16-17, John 6; 51-58)