Here is the text of the homily I prepared for today's celebration of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi - the Body and Blood of the Lord.
The first reading for today's liturgy describes a homecoming celebration. After Abram's return, King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine ... and furthermore, he blessed Abram (Gn 14:18-19). We are not living in the time of Melchizedek and Abram, but each time we gather around the Lord's table, we are invited to partake in the wonderful celebration that is known as the Eucharist.
Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. We focus our attention on these two precious gifts which have been given to us by our Lord. The details concerning the origin of these gifts are explained in Saint Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. He says: the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my Body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me'. In the same way, he took the cup ... after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my Blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me' (1 Cor 11:23-25). Each time we gather, each time we repeat these words, the Eucharistic celebration is a homecoming for us, a chance to touch the body of Christ, to receive this special food that keeps us united to Jesus, food that nourishes our faith.
Even in the beginning weeks of this new parish of ours, we need to understand the importance of nourishing ourselves with the body and blood of Christ. This heavenly food will help us to go out into the community week after week and to spread the light that Jesus instills in our hearts with others by sharing the joy of this moment with those we encounter.
We can do this because Jesus has already shown us how to go about it. At the end of a day of speaking with the crowds about the kingdom of God, and healing those who needed to be cured (cf Lk 9:11), the disciples wanted to send the people away, but Jesus had a different plan. Jesus often has another plan for us, and we must always try to be attentive to his plan because his plan is always for our good and for the good of those around us.
The disciples were tired, the people were tired, Jesus too must have been tired, but he wanted to show the disciples that even when we are tempted to give in to human limitations, God's possibilities are always limitless. When we are involved in doing God's work, there is always enough energy to accomplish what is needed. Jesus knew that it was possible for the disciples to provide what was needed. You give them something to eat, he said (Lk 9:13), and when they looked at him with questioning eyes, he astonished them with a miracle.
Jesus needed the disciples to help him that day. He asked them: Make the people sit down in groups ... (Lk 9:14). Jesus always knows what we are capable of, and he invites us to do what we can to prepare the way so that he can perform miracles in our midst. Because they cooperated with him that day, he was able to feed the multitudes. Today, he invites us to do what we can, and then to be attentive to the miracles that take place all around us. Our God is always ready and willing to respond to our needs. When we are hungry, he wants to feed us with special food and with encouraging words so that we can be refreshed and made ready for the journey that lies ahead: a journey of encountering those who are hungry, always ready to share with them the gift that we ourselves have received.
Fed and refreshed
The first reading for today's liturgy describes a homecoming celebration. After Abram's return, King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine ... and furthermore, he blessed Abram (Gn 14:18-19). We are not living in the time of Melchizedek and Abram, but each time we gather around the Lord's table, we are invited to partake in the wonderful celebration that is known as the Eucharist.
Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. We focus our attention on these two precious gifts which have been given to us by our Lord. The details concerning the origin of these gifts are explained in Saint Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. He says: the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my Body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me'. In the same way, he took the cup ... after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my Blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me' (1 Cor 11:23-25). Each time we gather, each time we repeat these words, the Eucharistic celebration is a homecoming for us, a chance to touch the body of Christ, to receive this special food that keeps us united to Jesus, food that nourishes our faith.
Even in the beginning weeks of this new parish of ours, we need to understand the importance of nourishing ourselves with the body and blood of Christ. This heavenly food will help us to go out into the community week after week and to spread the light that Jesus instills in our hearts with others by sharing the joy of this moment with those we encounter.
We can do this because Jesus has already shown us how to go about it. At the end of a day of speaking with the crowds about the kingdom of God, and healing those who needed to be cured (cf Lk 9:11), the disciples wanted to send the people away, but Jesus had a different plan. Jesus often has another plan for us, and we must always try to be attentive to his plan because his plan is always for our good and for the good of those around us.
The disciples were tired, the people were tired, Jesus too must have been tired, but he wanted to show the disciples that even when we are tempted to give in to human limitations, God's possibilities are always limitless. When we are involved in doing God's work, there is always enough energy to accomplish what is needed. Jesus knew that it was possible for the disciples to provide what was needed. You give them something to eat, he said (Lk 9:13), and when they looked at him with questioning eyes, he astonished them with a miracle.
Jesus needed the disciples to help him that day. He asked them: Make the people sit down in groups ... (Lk 9:14). Jesus always knows what we are capable of, and he invites us to do what we can to prepare the way so that he can perform miracles in our midst. Because they cooperated with him that day, he was able to feed the multitudes. Today, he invites us to do what we can, and then to be attentive to the miracles that take place all around us. Our God is always ready and willing to respond to our needs. When we are hungry, he wants to feed us with special food and with encouraging words so that we can be refreshed and made ready for the journey that lies ahead: a journey of encountering those who are hungry, always ready to share with them the gift that we ourselves have received.
Alimenté et rafraîchi
La première lecture de la liturgie d'aujourd'hui décrit une célébration du retour au pays. En ces jours-là, Melchizédek, roi de Salem fit apporter du pain et du vin ... et de plus, il bénit Abram (Gn 14: 18-19). Nous ne vivons pas à l'époque de Melchisédek et d'Abram, mais chaque fois que nous nous réunissons autour de la table du Seigneur, nous sommes invités à prendre part à la merveilleuse célébration connue sous le nom de l'Eucharistie.
Aujourd'hui, l'Église célèbre la Solennité du Saint-Sacrement du Corps et du Sang du Christ. Nous fixons notre attention sur ces deux précieux dons qui nous ont été confiés par notre Seigneur. Les détails concernant l'origine de ces dons sont expliqués dans la première lettre que Saint Paul a adressée aux Corinthiens. Il dit: la nuit où il était livré, le Seigneur Jésus prit du pain, puis, ayant rendu grâce, il le rompit, et dit: 'Ceci est mon corps, qui est pour vous. Faites cela en mémoire de moi'. Après le repas, il fit de même avec la coupe, en disant: 'Cette coupe est la nouvelle Alliance en mon sang. Chaque fois que vous en boirez, faites cela en mémoire de moi' (1 Cor 11,23-25). Chaque fois que nous nous réunissons, chaque fois que nous répétons ces paroles, la célébration eucharistique est pour nous un retour au pays, une occasion de toucher le corps du Christ, de recevoir cette nourriture spéciale qui nous maintient unis à Jésus, un aliment qui nourrit notre foi.
Même au cours des premières semaines de cette nouvelle paroisse, nous devons comprendre l’importance de nous nourrir du corps et du sang du Christ. Cette nourriture divine nous aidera à aller dans la communauté de semaine en semaine et à répandre la lumière que Jésus instille dans nos cœurs avec d'autres en partageant la joie de ce moment avec ceux que nous rencontrons.
Nous pouvons le faire parce que Jésus nous a déjà montré comment s'y prendre. À la fin d'une journée pendant laquelle Jésus parlait aux foules du règne de Dieu, et guérissait ceux qui en avaient besoin (cf Lc 9,11), les disciples voulaient renvoyer les gens, mais Jésus avait un plan différent. Jésus a souvent un autre plan pour nous et nous devons toujours essayer d'être attentifs à son idée, car son intention est toujours pour notre bien et pour le bien de ceux qui nous entourent.
Les disciples étaient fatigués, les gens étaient fatigués, Jésus aussi devait l'être, mais il voulait démontrer aux disciples que même lorsque nous sommes tentés de céder aux limites humaines, les possibilités de Dieu sont toujours illimitées. Lorsque nous participons au plan de Dieu, il y a toujours assez d'énergie pour accomplir ce qui est nécessaire. Jésus savait qu'il était possible pour les disciples de fournir ce qui était nécessaire. Donnez-leur vous-mêmes à manger, dit-il (Lc 9,13), et quand ils le regardèrent avec des yeux interrogateurs, il les étonna d'un miracle.
Jésus avait besoin des disciples pour l'aider ce jour-là. Il leur demanda de faire asseoir les gens en groupes ... (cf Lc 9, 14). Jésus sait toujours de quoi nous sommes capables et il nous invite à faire ce que nous pouvons pour préparer le chemin afin qu'il puisse accomplir des miracles au milieu de nous. Les disciples ont coopéré avec Jésus ce jour-là, et il a pu nourrir les multitudes. Aujourd'hui, Jésus nous invite à faire ce que nous pouvons, puis à être attentifs aux miracles qui se produisent tout autour de nous.
Notre Dieu est toujours prêt et disposé à répondre à nos besoins. Quand nous avons faim, il veut nous nourrir de la nourriture spéciale et des paroles encourageantes afin que nous puissions nous rafraîchir et nous préparer pour le voyage qui nous attend: c'est un voyage de rencontre avec ceux qui ont faim, et nous devons toujours être prêts à partager avec eux le don que nous avons nous-mêmes reçu.
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