THE BREAD AND WINE GIVEN FOR YOU

Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

(Gen 14:18-20, 1 Cor 11:23-26, Lk 9:11-17)

1.0.         Prelude

Today we celebrate Corpus Christi, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (The Eucharist). We gather in thanksgiving to celebrate Jesus’ offering of Himself in the form of Bread and Wine for our salvation. From the onset, the Eucharist has always been subject of controversy (Jn 6:58-62). Still, it has never failed to be a source of strength, joy and love for those who believe and receive worthily. Briefly, we shall draw some Eucharistic inspirations from the readings today.

2.0. The Priestly Offering

“Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High” (Gen 14:18). Unlike what was obtainable in the Old Testament where priests offered animals, Melchizedek surprisingly offered bread and wine. It was a thanksgiving offering for Abram, who in turn committed himself to the sacrifice by presenting a tenth of everything he got.

Notice that when the Levites made their offering, the person for whom they performed the sacrifice presented the animal that was slaughtered (Lev 1:2-5). But it was the Priest of Salem who brought out the bread and wine that was offered to God for Abram. This priestly offering prefigures the Eucharistic offering of Jesus for us. Corpus Christi is now and always a thanksgiving offering, no matter the intention of the faithful, and must be offered by a priest in the order of Melchizedek (Heb 7:1-28).

3.0.         Bread and Wine Sacrificed

Yes, it is a sacrifice! St Paul in the Second reading talks about the sacrificial dimension of the Eucharist. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the chalice, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1Cor 11:26). Jesus is the Victim, i.e. He is the object of the sacrifice as well as the Priest who offered Himself for our salvation. Like Melchizedek of old, Jesus brought bread and wine and, offered Himself through them. The ‘offering’ of the bread and wine becomes the same ‘offering’ of Himself at Calvary. “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And he did the same with the Chalice.

Thus the merits of the Cross of Christ are ever re-enacted—conferred anew—in the Eucharist. Like Mary and the beloved disciple at the foot of the Cross, we gather before the Altar, wrapped in resigned silence as our hearts are lifted up with the Bread and the Chalice... “When I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all people to myself” (Jn 12:32 ). The silence of self-abandonment floods the Church as the serene and sacrificial words of Jesus pierce through the sacred space! The Body and Blood of Christ—the Bread and Wine—is sacrificed.

4.0.         “And all ate and were satisfied.”

The Gospel of today narrates how Jesus fed the five thousand men with five loaves and two fish. The people were hungry. It was such a lonely and deserted place. Surely, the soul feels lonely, abandoned and wearied if its deepest yearnings are elusive.

Through the collaboration of His disciples, Jesus provided food for the multitude. “And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd” (Lk 9:16). Thus through the priests—successors of the apostolic college—Jesus continues to nourish the faithful with the His Body and Blood in the form of Bread and Wine, in the order of Melchizedek (Heb 7:15-19) “And all ate and were satisfied” (Lk 9:17). The grace that flows from the Eucharist is supra-abundance! Here we encounter the purifying Blood of Jesus, which pleads more insistently than Abel’s (Heb 12:18-24).

As they ate and were satisfied, the collected what was leftover. God’s gift cannot be wasted. The grace of God cannot be received in vain (2 Cor 6:1). We must apply this nourishment to its proper use: a life of holiness.

    5.0.         Bread and Wine given for You

At the Eucharist, as we kneel in silent adoration, our hunger meets God’s yearning for us. He satisfies our every desire with the power of His love, which transcends all our needs and hunger. Thus, we approach this altar, loaded with human problems, but offering the sacrifice in thanksgiving. The Eucharist announces that satisfaction which does not await all our problems to be solved.

Unfortunately, there is high level of dissatisfaction in our society today. Some people soak themselves in all sorts of addiction just to ‘create’ certain sense of satisfaction. The joy and peace that the Eucharist gives, nourishes and strengthens us in body and soul, and heals our wounded emotions. Restlessness must surrender to the Eucharist, where silence speaks. The Bread and Wine is given for us; let us eat and be satisfied.

Fr Jude Nwahcukwu, C.Ss.R

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church,

Abule-Oshun, Lagos.

Sunday 23^rd June, 2019.

Corpus Christi