Feast of Body and Blood of Christ:B

                                               "CORPUS CHRISTI"

First Reading : Ex.24:3-8
Second Reading: Heb. 9:11-15
Gospel Reading: Mk. 14:12-16, 22-26

   * First Reading is from the Book of Exodus. This is a narration of the solemn sealing of Covenant between God and the people of Israel made on the mount Sinai. Moses sealed the covenant with the blood of the animals. But people failed to observe this covenant and they went after other gods. This covenant on mount Sinai prefigured the new covenant which would be ratified by Jesus by his own blood on Mount Calvary.

   * Second reading is from the letter to the Hebrews. The author explains that through the redeeming work of Christ , God has entered into a new and eternal covenant with his people. Unlike the priests of the old covenant , Jesus the priest of the new and eternal covenant entered the sanctuary with his own blood for our redemption. Thus he is the mediator of the new covenant.

"This is my Blood of the Covenant which is poured out for many"

Today's Gospel passage is from St. Mark , which describes the preparation and the celebration of the Last Supper which Jesus ate with his disciples before his death. During the last supper , Jesus gave his body and blood as food for his disciples. This Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) reminds us of the celebration and the institution of the Eucharist at the last supper.
There are four important reasons for celebration this Feast on this Sunday.
1. Through this celebration we are reaffirming our faith in the Eucharistic Lord; that Jesus is truly and really present in the Eucharist in the form of bread and wine. Jesus said "He who eats my body and drinks my blood will have eternal life."
2. This feast is to make reparation for all the lack of reverence , blasphemy and unworthy participation of the Eucharist. St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians  severely condemned unworthy participation at the Eucharistic table.
3. This feast is to give thanks for all the graces we have received through the participation in Eucharist . By receiving this heavenly food , God has given us immense blessings.
4. This feast makes us conscious that we need to receive the body and blood of the Lord often to grow in Christ.
Jesus gave himself to us in the Eucharist . We in our turn have to gives ourselves to others.