YEAR A: HOMILY FOR SOLEMNITY OF THE HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST
HOMILY THEME: THE REAL PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THE EUCHARIST
BY: Fr. Emmanuel Nwokeji.
HOMILY: The Feast of Corpus Christi, also known as the Solemnity of Most Body and Blood of Christ.
This day of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ the Lord, the church is celebrating the real presence of Christ which comprises the body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ in the elements of Eucharist. The real presence of Christ in the veil of bread and wine help to guide and lead us to the eternal rest. The same presence of God in the veil of manna in the old testament nourished and led the chosen people into the land of rest; promise land.
In today’s Gospel John 6:51-58, Jesus Christ is still on the teaching of Himself as the living bread that came down from heaven. This living bread is the same Word of God of Jn 1:1, 14. He is living and active (Heb.6:4). The word that is living is from heaven. He is the son of the living God. Where ever He enters, there is life in its fullness. The same word of God at God’s command became Manna. From all indications, the word of God effects the bread and wine to become the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
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This Word of God is God of the second Trinity who has two natures, human and divine. He is the highest form of God’s real presence on earth. Jesus’ intention is to teach the people what He is. Let them know also his divine nature.
Have you been a teacher before? If so u will agree with me or, must have suspected that there are times when you are teaching something and felt the words are falling to the floor. Some students appeared to be paying attention, but when you look closer, the attentive look is really a dazed look. Others have their head on their desk and others are seriously paying attention to something else, possibly their next activity. As a teacher, you have interesting and important lesson to teach the students and sometimes their interest seems to be absent. In such moment, it must be frustrating and you must feel powerless to make the words heard.
In a similar way, Jesus seemed to have the same experience, but may not feel the same way like other teachers.
During catechises or evening instruction, the teacher try to convince the audience some negative effects of their thoughts in their community tradition. Example, the thought of not performing marriage rites on Eke market day. After much teaching, their questions and responses will tell you that you are just combing the universe or pouring water on the stone.
Gospel of today Jn. 6:51-58 has tripartite message for us.
- Jesus’ pronouncement: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever that eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh” Here Jesus established His divinity and want us to share in it as he humble Himself to share in our humanity. He offers us immortality with His flesh.
- Crowd’s perplexity: the crowds or the Jews were unable to understand the teaching of Jesus Christ about Himself and divinity. The Jews disputed among them saying, how can this man give us his flesh to eat and blood to drink. The misunderstood Jesus as result of their mind set. They were listening to Him not to change their way of living. They were listening to find fault instead of listening to learn. The reign of Mosaic law which is not perfect is more important and preferable than the reign of Jesus Christ who has come to perfect all things. In the books of Lev. 7:10-14 and Deut. 12:16 the Jews were instructed not to eat meat with blood or drinking of blood. They were preoccupied with earthly thoughts and recognized not the spiritual significance of Jesus teaching.
Many are still in the position of the Jews doubting the real presence and divinity of Jesus Christ. - Jesus promises: Jesus promised life for those who will eat His flesh, transform them into eternity; abode of God. While on earth, He lives in them; making them His mobile tabernacle.
May God grant us the grace to receive Him worthily so that his real presence will abide in us and manifest in all our endeavors.
Happy Sunday of Corpus Christi?
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