Today we celebrate Corpus Christi – the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
On this day we are reminded not only of the great grace and nourishment that we receive from the Eucharist, but – just as importantly – we are reminded of our fellowship as the one body of Christ and our call to “be” Jesus here on earth.
As Christ’s body we are called to be Christ’s eyes – to be watchful and responsive to those in need. We are called to be Christ’s ears – to patiently engage with, and listen to, anyone who is in need. We are called to be Christ’s hands – to help raise up anyone who needs encouragement and hope. We are called to be Christ’s feet – to journey with anyone who needs support, guidance, or companionship. As Jesus’ body we are called to imitate what Jesus himself demonstrated in his brief ministry – mercy, kindness, compassion, tolerance, forgiveness, and inclusivity. In a word we are called to love.
Today’s scripture bears this out.
In today’s gospel (Luke 9:11-17), we hear about the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. It is interesting that Jesus did not simply work this miracle alone. Instead, Jesus empowered the twelve apostles, allowing God to work through them – to be Jesus’ eyes, ears, hands, and feet. When asked to address the crowds’ hunger, Jesus instructs the twelve: “give them some food yourselves”. God then works miraculously through those twelve apostles. And everyone in the crowd has their fill.
As it was for the twelve, it is the same for us. We look to Jesus as our teacher and model, and we strive to “be” Jesus for others. As the one body, God works through us as we offer kindness, and companionship to others. God works through us as we help those that we encounter to “have their fill” – to experience life in its fullness, and to experience God in his fullness.
And in today’s second reading (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) we hear Paul tell the Christian community in Corinth: “what I received from the Lord I hand on to you”. So we also look to Paul as teacher and model as he helps us to realize that it is the same for us – that what we receive from God we hand on to others.
God gives us his life, his love, his strength, and his companionship. As the one body we pass all of this on, or as I like to say, we pay all this forward. We help others to realize the great love God has for all of us, for all members of the one body. We help others to realize that God is always there for them. We do this by our own acts of kindness and companionship. We do this by our own acts of tolerance and inclusion. We do this by our own acts of forgiveness and reconciliation. We do this by loving.
We are privileged to have such a personal and loving God who allows us to help him do his work, achieve his will, and build up the one body of Christ, right here, right now.
“We are privileged to have such a personal and loving God who allows us to help him do his work, achieve his will, and build up the one body of Christ, right here, right now.”
True and so beautifully said!