The Body and Blood of Christ

 Reflection on Today’s Readings, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year C Sunday 19th June, 2022

Texts: Genesis 14:18-20; Psalm 110: 1-4; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Luke 9:11b-17

Today is the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this celebration we are to reflect on the mystery of this Most Holy Body and Blood. Today’s first reading reminds us of the appearances under which the Body and Blood exist. What we talk about here is the true Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ through which we receive Him soul and divinity into our hearts and for the embrace of our souls. These Body and Blood exist under the appearances of bread and wine. In the first reading, it is said, “Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. And he blessed Abram and said, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!’” It is clear in the first reading that the Body and Blood do not exist under any appearances of bread and wine. Do not think that when you take bread and wine at home, you have received Christ. The Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ exist under the appearances of bread and wine offered to God with a form of words by validly ordained priests. A validly ordained priest is ‘alter christus’ who say the form of words used by Jesus Christ when He offered Himself to God the Father under appearances of bread and wine. The Church says, “At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and Blood” (CCC no. 1333).

The first reading also reminds us of the meaning of the offering of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ; it is a thanksgiving offering to God the Father for His benefits. Melchizedek, priest brought out bread and wine and used them in blessing Abram and thanksgiving to God for the deliverance from the hands of his enemies. The Church says, “The Eucharist is a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Father, a blessing by which the Church expresses her gratitude to God for all his benefits, for all that he has accomplished through creation, redemption, and sanctification. Eucharist means first of all ‘thanksgiving’” (CCC no. 1360). In Eucharistic celebration we offer to God the Father that which is equal to His benefits we have received. At incarnation He gave us His only-begotten Son for our redemption while we offer Him the same only-begotten Son in our Eucharistic Celebration. Nothing man could offer God that could equal His benefit to him, except His only-begotten Son. It is worthy and satisfying offering.

Paul tells us, in the second reading, that the Body of Jesus Christ is for us and His Blood the seal of the covenant between us and God. It is said, “the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’” In the same way also the chalice, after supper, saying, ‘This chalice is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’” What could he have meant when He said, “This is my body which is for you”? This is answered in His words: “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (John 6:27). He has given us His Body for food. He adds, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh” (John 6:51).

Paul, in the second reading, quoted Jesus Christ to have said a new covenant was established in His blood. The old covenant was established with the blood of animal but the new covenant is established in the Blood of the Son of God. It is put differently thus: “for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Mt. 26:28; Luke 22:20). The blood of Jesus Christ is the purification of our sins and thus becomes the seal of our justification, sanctification, redemption and salvation. With the Blood of Jesus Christ we are reconciled with God the Father and have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. Jesus Christ also asked us to do it in remembrance of Him. We are also to remember His love. He adds, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the chalice, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes”.  

Today’s gospel Reading reminds us of the abundance of God’s provision, goodness, love and care. From five loaves of bread and two pieces of fish, He provided more  than enough food for the people. This brings to mind the words of Paul: “Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20). This tells us that God is able to meet all our needs and satisfy our desires.

God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion, grant us, we pray, so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption. Amen (Collect)

Fr. Andrew  Olowomuke