Feast of Corpus Christi Cycle C June 6, 2010
Genesis 14:18-20 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Luke 9:11b-
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Just in case you haven’t noticed by now, one of my favorite topics for homilies –besides the
Boston Red Sox – revolves around the idea of food. (It’s not my fault I’m from a family of 16,
and food was scarce when growing up, thus I constantly have it on my mind). Whether its
Coney Island hot dogs, or Wright’s Chicken Farm, or a number of other great places to eat,
food is an appropriate topic for homilies since we will all be fed at the banquet of eternal life
promised to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus
Christ.
But before we arrive at the death we can’t avoid and the resurrection promised to us, we
have our present life to concern ourselves with being fed. We need our sustenance on a
daily basis. And we also need our sustenance on a weekly basis. And for most of us, the
sustenance we receive on a weekly basis - the sustenance of the Sabbath along with the
sustenance of the altar – is the real food that will carry us through the death we can’t avoid,
and will lift us to an exalted position with the angels and the saints as we await the
resurrection of our bodies. Because contained in this one piece of bread that comes down
off the altar and into our bodies is the promise and fulfillment that we will share eternity with
those we love, and praise the God who created us by sharing in His glory.
Before we arrive there though, there is much blessing to share. As we celebrate Corpus
Christi, the Sacrament of our salvation, we take a moment this day to give thanks to God for
sharing with us the real presence of His Son. This mindset, this motion, and this desire to
give thanks are grounded in all three readings today. Each reading in its own way gives
thanks to God in this life for the bread we share and the cup we drink. It happens before we
come to the death we cannot avoid. And before we are exalted into the company of the
saints and angels.
Thus, prior to receiving the Eucharist, there is a time of mutual thankful preparation between
God and us; we thank God for sharing His presence with us, and God thanks and blesses us
for freely accepting the invitation to come here each week and be fed with the food that
comes down from heaven.
In today’s 1st reading, a very short reading from Genesis, the priest of Salem, Melchizedek,
blesses Abram in the presence of bread and wine. Today, the priest, who at this Mass
happens to be Fr. Riley – a most unworthy servant made worthy enough by Jesus Christ the
High Priest – blesses “Abram,” this group of worshippers here, in the presence of bread and
wine. So in the image of Melchizedek, what takes place on the altar translates into a blessing
for all those present, and for those who long to be here but can’t be for one reason or
another. This blessing takes place especially during the elevation of the host, and the
elevation of the cup. The moments of elevation are moments of supreme blessing for the
gathering of believers. The elevation of the body and blood of Christ are done not to make
the priest look good or holy. It’s done so God may bless you before you walk forward to
receive Him. It’s God’s way of saying thanks prior to us giving thanks to God for sharing His
very Son with us. It’s the blessing before the meal, in the image of Melchizedek, the priest of
Salem.
In today’s 2nd reading, Paul explains to the Corinthian community what he has received from
the Lord and handed on to these believers. What Paul passes on is known as direct divine
revelation. Paul received this personally from Jesus because he wasn’t at the Last Supper.
He was too busy making preparations in order to persecute those who were present at the
Last Supper. What Jesus gave Paul to hand on was the Last Supper he missed out on; that
on the night he was handed over by Judas, Jesus took bread, and after he had given thanks,
broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you…this is my blood shed for you…do this in
remembrance of me.” Once again, the thankful blessing is prior to the eating of the actual
meal.
Except in this reading, the thankful blessing comes from the hearts of those gathered for
worshipped in the Corinthian community, through Christ, and directed toward our Heavenly
Father. Jesus gave thanks to his Father before the words of consecration. Jesus thanked
his Heavenly Father for sustaining him. Jesus thanked his Heavenly Father for hearing him
in prayer. Jesus thanked his Heavenly Father for his future justification in the resurrection;
the one event that made it possible for Jesus to go forward. The same one event that makes
it possible for us to go forward and give thanks to God before our resurrection happens.
That has wide spiritual ramifications for us. Because to thank God for our own resurrection
before it happens says we have a level of confidence in God that everything under the
heavens and earth cannot shake. “Lord, thank you for my resurrection, before I die.”
That’s confidence!
And in the Gospel we have the familiar story of Jesus feeding the thousands who are hungry
with five loaves and two fish (God’s math). As he held the loaves and fish, Jesus looked up
to heaven, said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to
distribute. The blessing in this event leads to joy and satisfaction. The joy that the disciples
had enough food for everyone as they passed it out. And the satisfaction experienced by the
thousands being fed from the hands of Jesus.
To bring this blessing of joy and satisfaction into the year 2010, there is great joy in my heart,
and in the heart of every priest, when we know we are not going to run out of hosts,
knowing there is enough to satisfy the souls of all who are present. Nothing makes us more
nervous than the possibility of running out of Jesus at communion time. This isn’t always
Coney Island where they never run out of hot dogs. And this isn’t Wright’s Chicken Farm
where chickens seem to fall out of the sky.
And our satisfaction is similar to the satisfaction of those thousands who sat on that hillside
with Jesus 2000 years ago. They were fed from the hands and heart of Jesus through the
disciples. We continue to be fed from the heart of Jesus because his love for us is
everlasting. And for that we are most blessed.
So, as we celebrate Corpus Christi, may we relish the many blessings in the many forms
bestowed upon us by our loving God. The thanks and blessings that happen before we come
to the death we can’t avoid. And before we experience the resurrection promised to
us.