Body and Blood of Christ

Ex 24:3-8 | Heb 9:11-15 | Mk 14:12-16, 22-26

I. These are the days for parties: First Communion parties, graduation parties,
Memorial Day family gatherings, getting together for a barbecue for no particular
reason. There’s always ...wedding receptions, baptism parties, anniversary parties
and so on.

We ritualize such celebrations through the sharing of food and drink: chips and
dips, Sloppy Joes, turkey and dressing sandwiches, potato salad, soft drinks, wine,
beer, cake and ice cream.

So what is really happening here? There’s a lot more going on than simple
socializing.: bonds of family and friendship are renewed and deepened. Through
such gatherings, our commitments to one another are somehow increased.
Through the acts of gathering and sharing food and drink, the bonds of solidarity,
our loyalty to one another, become more firm.

II. Today’s liturgical celebration – the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ – is
also about a bonding that transcends all others. Here we gather to celebrate who we
as a community, as members of the Body of Christ, as people committed to God and
to one another. And here, too, our gathering is ritualized through the sharing of
food and drink – the bread and wine, the Body and Blood of Christ.
But we must be very careful about what we do here: our bond was purchased in
blood, sealed in blood, is nourished in blood and unites us in blood.
And, although we may prefer not to think about it, it is a bond which may
demand our blood.

III. The first reading from Exodus relates to us the ritualizing of the covenant God
made with Moses and the people: this was the Ten Commandments.

A. It consisted of erecting an altar which represented God and the slaughtering of
young bulls which represented the giving of blood – which meant, really, the
giving of life itself.

• the blood was then sprinkled on the altar and on the people
• the people agreed to the terms of the covenant: “All that the Lord has said, we
  will heed and do.”
• they were agreeing to the terms of the covenant – solemn terms, which if fulfilled,
  could very well lead to the shedding of their own blood.

B. Jesus’ offering his body and blood, his very life for our sakes, effects a bonding no
less demanding.

• the celebration of family and friendship bonds at a graduation party, a wedding,
  a backyard picnic, may well lead someday to a demonstration of those bonds
  when we are called to stand by our family and friends in times of crisis and
  turmoil
• so it is with members of the Body of Christ: our gathering here goes far beyond a
  ritual act of prayer: participation in this covenant ceremony with Christ carries 
  its own imperatives and implications.

IV. Implications of a covenant, any covenant, mean we follow through – we show, in word
and deed, that the covenant is important – that we are living it out

• a married couple make a commitment and are faithful to it.
• friends are loyal to one another, they stand by each other
• families, likewise, bond together and stand up for each other
• our covenant with God also needs follow-through:
  • we do that through prayer –just as friends need to communicate with one
    another, so too, do we need to communicate with God: we do that through
    prayer; we can do that through Adoration, through prayer before the
    Blessed Sacrament. Sunday/this afternoon Eucharistic adoration at Holy
    Ghost
  • we also do that through action

V. What we do here must be lived out in action: not only do we come to receive the Body
and Blood of Christ, but we must also be the Body and Blood of Christ to others.

• at the Last Supper Jesus said, “Do this in memory of me.” Do what? What is it
  Jesus is asking us to do? What does “this” refer to?
• do it mean this ritual meal of the Eucharist which we call the Mass? Yes,
  certainly.
• but some scripture commentators suggest it also means the action of the
  Eucharist. Jesus has just said, “this is my body, this is my blood – broken and
  given for you. He is saying you, too must give of your body and your blood,
  broken and shared for others.

VI. So how are we broken and shared with others? In our day-to-day lives, day in and
day out, how do we nourish others – the people of our daily lives? A good question
for us to reflect upon, and personally apply.

You will be bread and wine, body and blood, for others. You will be Eucharist.

VI. In a few moments we are invited forward to receive the Body and Blood of Christ –
may our participation in this Solemnity today – be a way for us to deepen and renew
our covenant with God. May our celebration help us to more fully live the terms of
this covenant each day of our lives.

(Fr. Dwayne Thoman)