The Feast of Corpus Christi: Sunday: C: June 22, 2025

 THE FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

Introduction: Today we celebrate the Feast of the most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as Corpus Christi. We do not always appreciate the great gift the Lord has given to each one of us through the Eucharist where He gives His body and blood to each of us sacramentally. The Lord becomes food for us and He becomes a part of us. We do not always appreciate the greatness of what we do when we celebrate the Eucharist. We often fail to feel our closeness to Christ our Lord and Master. 

First Reading: Genesis 14: 18 to 20

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11: 23 to 26

Gospel Reading: Luke 9: 11 to 17

   *First reading is from the book of Genesis. Melchizedek - the king of Salem - meeting Abraham is narrated. Melchizedek offers bread and wine to Abraham and makes a profession of faith in one true God. In Christian tradition, the  symbol of bread and wine are pre-figuration of the Eucharist: The body and blood of Christ. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul instructs the Christians at Corinth regarding the first Eucharistic celebration at the Last Supper. Paul explains to them and to us that when we celebrate the Eucharist, we are not merely making present Christ's body and blood but in fact, we are re-enacting His death on the cross, by which Christ brought salvation to the humankind.

The miracle of loaves                                                            Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. The multiplication of five loaves and two fish by Jesus in the desert is narrated in detail.  Jesus feeds more than five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. He works this miracle in the desert out of compassion and love for the people, so that those who followed Him may not die due to hunger on their return journey home. At the Last Supper Jesus shares His own body and blood for us so that we might have eternal life by participating in the Eucharist. There are four main reasons why we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi: 1. First of all, this feast is celebrated to re-affirm our faith that Jesus is truly and really present in the Eucharistic bread and wine. The bread and wine we partake in the Eucharist are transformed into the precious body and blood of Christ. 2. This feast is celebrated as a reparation for all the blasphemy, irreverence and dishonour done to the Eucharistic Lord. 3. This feast is celebrated to give thanks for all the graces and blessings we receive through the presence of the  Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. 4. Finally, this feast is celebrated in order to make us aware of the great gift of Eucharist and the need to receive Holy Communion frequently to obtain manifold spiritual blessings for our daily tasks. In this context St. Maximilian Kolbe says: "God dwells in our midst in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar." St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta says: "In each of our lives, Jesus comes as Bread of life - to be eaten, to be consumed by us. This is how He loves us." St. Jerome says: "If Christ did not want to dismiss the Jews without food in the desert for fear that they would collapse on the way, it was to teach us that it is dangerous to try to get to heaven without the Bread of Heaven."

Conclusion: On the night before He died, as He shared Himself in the form of bread and wine, Jesus told His disciples : "Do this in memory of me." Memory keeps the past alive. In every Eucharistic celebration, let the immortal words of Jesus ring in our ears and let us humbly listen to His precious words. 

May the Eucharistic Lord Bless you with His life-giving presence in the Body and Blood you receive in every Eucharist you participate and may it bring you peace and eternal life. Amen.

(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph, June 22, 2025." Thanks.)