MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (CORPUS CHRISTI).
FIRST READING: Genesis 14:18-20
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 110: 1.2.3.4 (R. 4cd)
SECOND READING:1 Corinthians 11:23-26
GOSPEL READING: Luke 9:11b-17
OLUBUNMI SHAIRE
As we celebrate the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, the readings invite us to reflect on the meaning of the Eucharist. The Eucharist symbolizes and actualizes the new Covenant established by Jesus through his redeeming sacrifice on the cross.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus satisfies the spiritual yearning of the crowd that gathers to listen to his teachings; but he also commands the twelve to give them food. They bring to him a small offering of five loaves and two fish, which Jesus blesses and multiples to feed the hungry multitude.
We who receive the Body and Blood of Christ partake of the eternal life he has gained for us. At the same time, participating in the Eucharist implies that we need to make an effort to become like Jesus Himself. Like the apostles, we place our simple gifts in his hands; through his grace, he will enable us to do much good, more than we could ever imagine.
ABEL OKWOR
SHOW ME YOUR FAITH BY YOUR WORKS
Everything good we desire to see God do for us requires we contribute our own quarter.
From the division of the Red Sea to the feeding of the 5000 men, man is required to bring something too.
This understanding is important even as we are taught daily to put all our hope and trust in God.
Kindly note: the measure of your faith and trust in God will be seen in how much work and excellence you put in while waiting for God to divide the Red Sea, pull down your Jericho walls, make the jar of oil flow endlessly and make the flour multiply.
Our Christianity is not about sitting idly and expecting God to run errands for us. It is about taking responsibility for the good outcomes we are praying to God for.
We work, and we pray. We bring our bread first, and we pray to God for multiplication. We need to imbibe the culture of placing something, as a contact point, for God to bless and multiply.
But please do not take this literally. This something, as used in the last paragraph, merely represents anything you are praying to God for or expecting a miracle from God over.
We have to get comfortable with doing our part first before bringing our intentions and genuine desires to God for help and divine intervention.
May God grant us all the grace to have this mindset and live it out daily. Amen.
BIBIANA CYRIL- UZOIGWE
The Gospel acclamation is a call of redirection and focus to us from our Master, Jesus Christ.
Redirection for many of us who by one way or the other have separated ourselves from Him probably because we think our faults are too many for Him to forgive.
Brethren, should you be in this category, that is a lie from the pit of hell. That is Satan trying to deceive you like he did Adam and Eve, so that you miss your special place with God.
The Bible tells us that no matter how many our sins are. He is ever waiting at the door if your heart for you to open up for Him to enter. (Isaiah 1: 18)
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
That is why the Catholic Church has the sacraments for us so we can redirect our paths to God.
Are you part of those who has not been going to confession?
No doubt that God is everywhere and He will hear you. However, do not forget that the Priests you see are the Jesus Christ you see and if you can confess that since in your room for fear of familiarity with a priest or with the thoughts that the Priests will recall your face to your confess sins.
My dear, after the priest takes off the stole, he doesn't remember any of those things you have said. Infact my dear, How many person sins the priests wan carry for mind 🤣)
Are you one of those who attend Mass(es) and go back home without receiving the Body of Christ in the Holy Eucharist?
Dearest Jesus is calling us today to Focus on Him. Each day we partake in the reception of Holy Communion, we are refreshed anew from the inside-out, we are rekindled by the Holy Spirit, we are energized and strengthen as ambassadors of Christ. At that point, we carry Jesus in us. Hence, we become Christ-like; a mini-Jesus charged to live and act like Him.
Whenever we do not eat if this Living Bread, Jesus. We takes steps backwards spiritually and gradually become farther and then slowly things of God become boring and too lengthen for us ; now that is when we die spiritually (a death which isn't physical but a cut out from the source of our existence) by this one becomes a walking corpse.
This is not for you to intentionally do wrong then go to open your mouth to receive the communion. Should you do so, you receive condemnation and bring death to yourself. What we receive is Holy and we must make ourselves worth vessels too. So that our heart and body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit will be a begetting home for Jesus to stay in.
God is calling us today, to "Come and settle your matter with Him."(Isaiah 1:18)
Dearest, do not listen to the mischievous words of the devil! He is a soul thief, He is cunny and full of deception. *"He comes to steal, to deceive, kill and destroy your soul* (John 10:10) so that you go farther each day from God.
Let's us go deep into our hearts, reflect on your relationship with God - How close or far are you each day?
Come back to Jesus, the Living Bread that we may have live abundantly and live for ever.
May the good Lord grant us the grace to redirect our paths to our maker and help us focus on Him always. Amen
CHIKA NWAOZUZU
Every Miracle Has A Functional Sides.
Three things stands out from the gospel reading,thus;
👉 Jesus did not start multiplying loaves with nothing to multiply. For God to multiply something in our lives,he needs a physical or material substance to do that and it's only when we surrender that substance just like this little boy surrendered his meal or what would have fetch him and his family money in faith and in recognition of his power and authority that he can grant us multiplication. Let's remember the encounter of Abraham and God in Gen22:12---. And God said"Because you Abraham has done this by not with holding your only son from me,in multiply i will multiply you and you shall be a father of many nations.
We must surrender that our little beginnings to Jesus with trust because out from them, great things will unfold. Jesus can do anything but we must supply him everything we have to make the anything of God possible.
👉 Jesus said"Make the crowd sit down".
Angry/hungry mobs and indeed any kind of mob can be better handled if you can get them to sit down. Practically speaking, the best way you can get the attention of people to your self is by getting them to sit down.
👉 Twelve baskets of food were gathered after the affairs.
This twelve baskets represents the 12 apostles of Jesus and the twelve tribes of Israel, meaning that each apostle of Christ has enough to eat as his meal for the next day because in the economy of God, nothing is ever wasted and everything is to be used. God abhors wastage.
We pray that as we eat the body of Christ and drink his blood,may we be satisfied and may this satisfaction preserve us for everlasting life through Christ Our Lord🙏🙏🙏.
MARY BALOGUN
Celebrating the holy Eucharist; the true body and blood of Jesus Christ.
On our reflection today, we can say that the holy Eucharist is the new covenant - Jesus giving us his body and blood to eat as a sure ticket to eternal life and He tells us to do this often in remembrance of Him. For He says 'If we eat this bread and we drink this Chalice, we proclaim His death until He comes in glory'. We pray that as we make effort to partake in the Eucharist which He instituted for us, we become more like Him. In the Gospel Reading we see how Jesus, after satisfying the spiritual needs of the crowds gathered around him by giving them the Word, he asked the apostles to bring with what they have, blessed them and gave them to the crowd. In this we are drawn to the fact that our little efforts, when brought to Him he blesses and makes whole and His Grace enables us to do far more than we could ever imagine.
It's our prayer that He helps us receive Him worthily and to also by our lifestyle, draw others to Him so that 'we will be many' in our eternal home through Christ our Lord. Amen
Solemnity of Corpus Christi Sunday Reflection
The Bread of Life: From Melchizedek to the Eucharist
The First Reading (Genesis 14:18-20) introduces Melchizedek, a priest-king who offers bread and wine to God, foreshadowing the priestly role of Jesus.
The Second Reading (1 Corinthians 11:23-26); recounts the institution of the Eucharist, where Jesus gives himself to his disciples as bread and wine, establishing a new covenant.
The Gospel (Luke 9:11b-17); describes the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, where Jesus multiplies bread, demonstrating his power and care for humanity.
Central Message
The central message connecting the three readings is the theme of bread, which symbolizes nourishment, sacrifice, and communion with God. The readings highlight the progression of God's relationship with humanity, from Melchizedek's offering of bread and wine to the institution of the Eucharist by Jesus.
Questions and Answers
1. What significance does Melchizedek's offering of bread and wine hold?
Answer: It foreshadows the Eucharist and highlights Melchizedek's priestly role.
2. What does the Eucharist mean in our lives?
Answer: The Eucharist is a sacrament where we receive Jesus' body and blood, nourishing our souls and deepening our relationship with God.
3. How does the feeding of the 5,000 relate to the Eucharist?
Answer: The miracle demonstrates Jesus' power to nourish and care for humanity, which is fulfilled in the Eucharist.
Conclusion
As we celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, let us reflect on the significance of bread in our relationship with God. May we deepen our understanding and devotion to the Eucharist, recognizing Jesus' presence in our lives.
May Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception continue to intercede for us sinners, as we implore the grace to receive the Holy Eucharist worthily at all time, in order to live authentic Christian lives every day witnessing for Christ on the pathway of holiness on this earthly pilgrimage. Amen!
