Corpus Christi also known as the solemnity of the body and blood of Christ is a celebration of a great mystery. In a sense we have already celebrated the body and blood of Christ when we celebrated the Institution of the Eucharist on Holy Thursday.
Today we celebrate this solemnity in a joyful season after Easter where we are not limited by the constrains of Lent. In most cities there will be the solemn procession of the Blessed Sacrament that also symbolises the community dimension of today’s feast.
Jesus said in the Gospel proclamation, that he is the living bread that came down from heaven and whoever eats of this bread will have eternal life.
A simple question to ponder on, ‘How hungry and thirsty are we for Christ?’ Or have we allowed the cares of this world like wealth, power or human attachments to satiate us and have they sadly quenched our hunger for God?
Many of us faithfully receive the body and blood of Christ but may
believe that participation at the Eucharist is an ‘individual act’ as we often refer to it as ‘going for mass or hearing mass’. Let us avoid in being satisfied in only attending to fulfill our Sunday obligation but go further in participating through our prayers, singing hymns and giving our offerings.
Perhaps we could come a few minutes early, and prepare for Mass in prayer or by going for confession, leave after the final blessing and re- member to offer a smile or ‘hello’ to those we meet in church.
While we receive Jesus’ body and blood as individuals, the Eucharist is also essentially a community action. My participation and the value I place on the Eucharist has a ripple effect within my community circles.
In other words, to the extent I hunger and thirst to receive Jesus’ body and blood, over all other things each week, is the extent to which I am empowered to take Christ to others. I cannot give something that I do not first have in me.
One day these earthly gatherings will pass away, when we all enter into glory, seeing Jesus face to face. We would be gathered around sharing in his heavenly banquet. But for now we should do all we can to bring others to this heavenly banquet like those unable to attend due to sickness or having fallen away because of disappointment or unbelief and those whom the Gospel has not yet reached. We have both a responsibility and an opportunity to reach them, one soul at a time.

Prayer: Abba Father, give me a hunger for the Eucharist that I would once again desire to reach the lost, one person at a time. Amen.