YEAR B: HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (7)
YEAR B: HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST
HOMILY THEME: THE EUCHARIST AS THE SYMBOL OF GOD’S NEW COVENANT WITH HIS PEOPLE
BY: Fr. Cosmas Ukadike CM
Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant between God and his people (Heb 9, 15). He was able to accomplish this, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption for us humankind (Heb 9, 12).
Today’s first reading highlights the reason and significance of God’s covenant to his people when Moses brought together young men from Israel to sacrifice and make offerings to God. The reason for this was for them to key-into the covenant which God was to make between himself and his subjects (His chosen people). The covenant was basically for the well being of his people (Exd 24, 5).
Moses then went ahead and ratified it with the blood of animals (Exd 24, 8).
But this covenant is inadequate to truly give man and God the desired filial relationship needed, and to perfectly assure the wellbeing of man from God so the need for a New and lasting covenant, with an Eternal character.
So today we see in the Gospel, how Jesus not only prefigured the event of good Friday when his blood will be poured as a libation on the cross of Calvary, but also the given of himself totally and completely to humanity in the form of bread and wine (Mk 14, 22-26).
Jesus emphatically stated that “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many (Mk 14, 26).
Mark did not specifically use the word “New”, but Luke underscored the fact of this covenant as “New” (Lk 22. 20).
This covenant certainly has to be new because it is not like the covenants of old, and it was not sealed with the blood of bulls and goats, but with the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The gift of Jesus, of himself, in the form of bread and wine in the Eucharist was at the same time the sealing of the new covenant. We thank God for the gift of his son our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and thank him for using his blood to seal the New and eternal covenant for our wellbeing and salvation. We pray that his presence in the Eucharist will continue to inspire and nourish us forever and ever.
Happy feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.
Fr. Cosmas Ukadike, C.M.
