Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi is Latin for "the Body of Christ" and today, we celebrate this feast. Today, all three readings tie together themes of God's providence and self-gift, whether manna in the desert during the exodus, the beautiful "Bread of Life" discourses in John 6, or the first celebrations of the Eucharist in the early Church which Paul writes about in 1 Corinthians 10 and 11.

Through previous posts, I have already written extensively on the Eucharist. After all, it is the "source and summit" of the Christian life. It is Christ's self-gift to us, which invites us to respond through our own self-gift. Taking part in this C/communion is not only the most important thing we do all week; it is the most important thing we do throughout our entire lives. Surely, there can be nothing greater that receiving the real essence (grace) of our Lord, being transformed and even divinized through this communion with Him, and then going out, together, to "love and serve the world."

But I think it is also worth noting that "the Body of Christ" is also the term we use for the Church. We, as Christians, re-member and re-present Christ's presence to all the world. This brings certain roles and responsibilities, especially in terms of justice, peace, reconciliation, and above all, love.

This was absolutely critical for the Apostle Paul. The more you read the Pauline Epistles, the more you will pick up on his efforts to spread tolerance for the good of the whole, meaning tolerance as a path towards unity amid the Body of Christ [cf. Ephesians 4:1-6].

This doesn't mean unity will be easy or that we seek unity at all costs. As with everything, there is a balance between being tolerant and yet still being able to stand for what is true, right, and good.

For example, although the "Bread of Life" discourse in John 6 is home to some of the most touching and meaningful imagery in all of Scripture, it is immediately followed by the point that after Jesus revealed Himself as the Bread of Life, "many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him" [John 6:66]. Sometimes the Good News isn't easy to bear. Even for the sake of unity, we cannot water down the message.

Although EVERY Sunday is a celebration of Corpus Christi, today we pay particular attention to, and give thanks for God's gift-giving in the Eucharist. We give thanks (which is what "eucharistia" means) for all God has given us, we remember what Christ has done for us, and we call down the Holy Spirit so that, in eating and drinking the bread and wine (the body and blood), we are received into communion with the Body of Christ [1 Cor. 10:16-17], we are granted atonement for sins [Mt. 26:28], salvation, and the promise of eternal life [John 6:51-58].

And we pray, that in and through this C/communion, all may be ONE in the Body of Christ.