Homily Corpus Christi Sunday 2020 Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) which coincides with our come-back to the public Mass. I remember that long ago in many countries, people used to do processions in the streets with the Body of Christ exposed to bless the people. When I was a child, I personally liked this Solemnity because, as an altar server, I had the responsibility of carrying incense during the procession. And I liked that. In my homily today, I’ll focus on three main points.
My first point is about the Meaning of today’s Solemnity
What is the precise significance of today’s solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ? The answer is given to us by Pope Benedict when he said, “
On Corpus Christi Day, we gather around the altar of the Lord, to be together in His presence. Corpus Christi reminds us first of all of this: that being Christian means coming together from all parts of the world to be in the presence of the one Lord and to be one with him and in him. With the gift of himself in the Eucharist, the Lord Jesus sets us free from our paralysis; he helps us up and enables us to proceed, that is, he makes us take a step ahead and then another step, and thus sets us going with the power of the Bread of life. The Corpus Christi procession teaches us that the Eucharist seeks to free us from every kind of despondency and discouragement, wants to raise us, so that we can set out on the journey with strength God gives us through Jesus Christ. Each one can find his own way if he encounters the one who is the Word and Bread of Life and lets himself be guided by friendly presence. The Eucharist is the Sacrament of the God who does not leave us alone on the journey but stays at our side and shows us the way (…). Adoring the God of Jesus Christ, who out of love made himself bread broken, is the most effective and radical remedy against the idolatry of the past and present. Kneeling before the Eucharist is a profession of freedom. We prostrate ourselves before a God who first bent over men like the Good Samaritan to assist him and restore his life, and who knelt before us to wash our dirty feet. Adoring the Body of Christ means believing that there, in that piece of Bread, Christ is really there, and gives true sense to life. Adoration is prayer that prolongs the celebration and Eucharistic Communion and in which the soul continues to be nourished with love, truth, peace. It is nourished with hope, because the One before whom we prostrate ourselves does not judge us, does not crush us, but liberates us and transforms us.”
Today, Jesus offers us his Body as Bread of Life
In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “
I am the living Bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel make it clear that his Body and Blood are just as vital to us as are the physiological food and drink. Without the nourishment of the Eucharist, God’s life in us can slowly start to drain away. Each time we celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, when I gaze the Body of Christ in the Eucharist, a prayer of demand comes up from my heart saying, “
Lord Jesus, give me this bread of yours, so I can live forever.” I personally like bread, but not all kind of bread. When you go to Safeway on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville, there are different kinds of bread: Corn bread, Irish bread, Whole-wheat bread, Banana bread, French Baguette and French toast bread, etc. The Bread Jesus gives us is different from Safeway’s bread. So, the difference between Safeway’s bread and Jesus’ bread is in the fact that Safeway’s bread feeds only the body; it feeds only the stomach. It’s what is called the “
physiological bread”. However, Jesus’ Bread feeds our soul and our spiritual life. Jesus’ Bread gives us eternal life. The Bread Jesus gives is his Body to eat and his Blood to drink. Jesus is the living bread that satisfies all the hungers of humanity. He is the Corn bread of our faith. He is the Banana bread of our hope. He is the whole-wheat bread of unity. He is the French toast of love. He is the French baguette of forgiveness. He is our Irish bread of joy. He is the skillet corn bread of reconciliation and peace. He is the breaking bread of friendship and fraternity.
The Solemnity of Corpus Christi is an invitation to become what we receive, to become the Body of Christ.
Soon, at communion time, you’ll come to receive the Body of Christ in your heart. As you receive the Body of Christ which is Bread of love, bread of peace, bread of faith and hope, you have to become a changed person, a new person: nice, loving, sociable, available to serve others. As the lyrics of a wonderful French song for Communion time says, “
Become what you receive, become the Body of Christ; Become what you receive, you are the Body of Christ.” You, parishioners of Placerville and Georgetown, today, become what you receive, become the Body of Christ, and you are the Body of Christ. When celebrating Corpus Christi, you’re invited to come and adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Love Him, Adore Him, Glorify Him and Make Him the only focus of your life. As Saint Mother Teresa said, “
Jesus is the Word to be spoken. Jesus is the life to be lived. Jesus is the love to be loved. Jesus is the Joy to be shared. Jesus is the sacrifice to be offered. Jesus is the Peace to be given. Jesus is the Bread of Life to be eaten. Jesus is the Hungry to be fed. Jesus is the Thirsty to be satiated. Jesus is the Naked to be clothed. Jesus is the Homeless to be taken in. Jesus is the Sick to be healed. Jesus is the prisoner to be treated dignity and respect. Jesus is the Lonely to be loved. The Body of Christ is the only bread able to satisfy our hunger. And the Blood of Christ is the only drink able to quench our thirst.” Happy Feast of Corpus Christi to all!
Rev. Fr Pepin W. F. DANDOU Georgetown, CA June 13, 2020.