Greetings on this the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Readings: Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a; Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6:51-58
Summary
If we use the metaphor of a photographer’s camera in thinking about the liturgy as we have experienced it through these past few Sundays. We could say…
- Pentecost opened the lens wide to the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Holy Trinity focused us on the deepest truth that: God loves.
- Corpus Christi brings that focus to a single point: Jesus gives Himself to us.
Because we are a Franciscan community, perhaps we can be more specific about the spirituality of Saint Francis and his deep love of the Eucharist.
This is from a Letter of Francis of Assisi:
O wonderful loftiness and stupendous dignity! O sublime humility! O humble sublimity! The Lord of the universe, God and the Son of God, so humbles Himself that for our salvation He hides Himself under an ordinary piece of bread! – from his Letter to the Entire Order, St. Francis of Assisi.
- He hides Himself under an ordinary piece of bread!
- The Lord of the universe making Himself small enough to be received.
A divine humility so deep as to defy description – although we must try.
A sublimity so amazing that we are left in awe at the depth of the gifting of his Divine Self.
This awe deeply formed Francis’ reverence for the priesthood through which Christ continues to give Himself to His people.
So, what are we to make of our participation in the Divine Life?
The cup of blessing that we bless,
is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?
The bread that we break,
is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
The witness of Francis can be found in our Responsorial Psalm today – a manifestation of the Law of Love.
He brings peace to your borders,
and satisfies you with finest wheat.
He sends his command to earth;
his word runs swiftly!
(PS 147:15-16)
- If Christ humbles Himself to come to us, how can we refuse to humble ourselves before one another?
- To wit:
- Francis was driven to share the finest Wheat of Jesus.
- Francis was moved to help us share and embody Jesus’ command to love so as to run swiftly throughout the world.
We have been given the gift of Reverence.
For more than twenty years this parish has been blessed by Franciscan priests who taught us, above all, reverence for the Eucharistic Lord. Said another way, the Franciscan contribution may be less about what to do, or how we do it, and more about how to see.
Personal Reflection
Let us then “see” and accept the gift of Jesus, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, given with Incarnate humility… that we might respond…
Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
Prior Corpus Christi reflection: https://deacongerrypalermo.blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/a-short-teaching-on-corpus-christi.pdf
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060726.cfm
Next Friday is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.is celebrated on the Friday following the Second Sunday after Pentecost and also the Friday after the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood.of Christ. These are so arranged as to allow us to contemplate and adore the Gift and the Gift Giver, the exterior and the interior in sequence. If I am able to, I will write on that day as well.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry