14/06/2009 - The Most Holy Body and
Blood of Jesus Christ - B
1st. Reading Ex 24,3-8 Psalm 115 2nd. Reading Heb 9,11-15 Gospel Mk 14,12-16.22-26
Every Sunday we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the dead
with the memory of his last Supper that his disciples prepared in "the
upper room" of a house of Jerusalem. That Supper was the paschal Supper,
rich of rites and memories, but the evangelists that wrote it, underlines two
things. These are the actions and the words that accompany the sharing of the
leaven bread and the cup of wine. Both were to remember the liberation of the
people from Egypt by Moses, and of the wondrous signs that accompanied them,
and of the lamb they ate and by whose blood they marked their doors. Jesus performs
a solemn action and at the same time simple with leaven bread in hand: he says
the blessing, break it and give it out. Up to now nothing is new. But the words
that accompany his action are not the usual ones: "Take, this is my body".
The disciples must have remained astounded, unable to understand. Jesus had
already announced his death through the hands of men, but they didn't take him
seriously. Now he gives to that broken bread the significance of the memorial
of his given body. Like wise he repeats the newness with the chalice. Of the
chalice he adds something more: it is "the blood of the covenant, given
for many". The covenant of which the prophets speak, is the new and everlasting
covenant, that in which only God commits himself to love us
Since because of the evil of sin that is in us, we are not able to be faithful;
God comes down to us and allies himself with us even though we are not able
to keep our promises. This covenant was instituted by Jesus himself when he
gave his blood. Feeding ourselves with his Body and with his Blood, his life
and his faithfulness become ours. The one who eats the Bread that Jesus give
and drink the Wine of the chalice that Jesus offer, shares in his ability to
love faithfully, a superior love in expectations, of a love of unexpected possibilities.
Bread and Wine, Body and Blood of Jesus are the ones that we put on the altar
and feed ourselves. Who comes here comes to receive, to receive life, strength,
and the perseverance of the love given by God. Who comes here comes also to
give. He gives the real existence of being a man or a woman, in a renewed way.
He gives that love that he received from God and that now Jesus sustains with
his bread.
To take part in Mass is an important moment of life: it's not a simple rite,
not like going to a supermarket to choose what one likes, or the theater to
pass the time in the company of others. Taking part in the Eucharist show what
type of life we have and how we desire to live in our moments of solitude and
in our social life with others. It is not only an exercise of love for God,
whom we want to hear, but also of others, both those with whom we share the
listening of the Word and singing, and those absent with whom we meet on our
journey of faith. When one prefers to stay in bed or go and have fun, or do
other things instead of taking part in the Eucharist, the community is being
impoverished. In such a case, sin is not only in denying oneself from the richness
one can receive only through the Eucharistic celebration, but also in denying
the community and the Church at large of one's presence, of one's witness of
the faith, of one's love.
I met with many people who suffer because of wrong relationships in the family
or in their environment. From their stories I understand the reason of so much
suffering. In many cases they don't feed themselves any more with the Bread
of Life, are far away from the sacrament of God's mercy, don't join in the witness
of faith with the other brothers and sisters, don't offer their share in the
celebration that Jesus himself gave for the renewal and healing of the world.
The sick that refuses medication and the attention of the doctor remain sick
and his pain and suffer increase. The Christian, who reject the gift of his
Lord and stay away, cannot not be in tribulation caused by the disorder and
the sin of the world.
Today's solemnity is an occasion to renew our yes to remain close to the Lord
and to welcome with joy the gifts he wanted to leave us so that we can grow
in the life 'eternal'. As we leave the church in procession carrying the sacrament
of the Body of Christ and singing his praises we want to express our faith in
him and our love for him, but also to say to all that the true life is Jesus,
that he is the source of our communion, the source of our every love and our
every service.
Jesus, thank you for the gift you have given us: your hidden presence in the
bread. With this bread you mysteriously communicate your strength to us, big
and small, well and sick, sinners and unfaithful. We praise you and we bless
you: stay with us always, we want to remain united with you!