Body and Blood of Christ: 14 June

When Christians eat and drink at the Lord’s table they are in communion with Christ. In the second reading Paul adds that sharing in the one loaf of bread makes everyone 'a single body.' The Lord’s supper brings us into communion both with Christ and with one another. (Cor 10:16-17)

We return to Mass this week as a hope filled community united with God and each other.

'The Eucharist fulfills the Covenant, which sanctifies us, purifies us and unites us in worthy communion with God. Thus we learn that the Eucharist is not a prize for the good, but is strength for the weak, for sinners. It is forgiveness, it is the Viaticum that helps us to move forward, to walk.' (Pope Francis, On the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Para 6 June 4, 2015.) 

The following piece could be used to reflect on this special time.

Music: Deep Within 3:49 dur. Here.

From the Gospel of John 6:51-58

‘... For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in them.’ 

This is why the body and blood of Christ signify unity and peace.

Music: Eat this bread - Taize chant. 4:28 dur. Here

Reflection

When we ritually tell the story of Jesus’ sacrifice (in the Eucharistic prayer, the very heart of liturgy) we experience the “real presence” of the event of Christ’s dying and rising. Moreover, that reality is given to us so that we might participate in it. How? We participate in Jesus’ sacrifice for us when we, like him, let ourselves be broken down; when we, like him, become selfless. The Eucharist, as sacrifice, invites us to become like the kernels of wheat that make up the bread and the clusters of grapes that make up the wine, broken down and crushed so that we can become part of communal loaf and single cup.

Occasionally when St. Augustine was giving the Eucharist to a communicant, instead of saying, “The body of Christ,” he would say, “receive what you are.” That puts things correctly. What is supposed to happen at the Eucharist is that we, the congregation, by sacrificing the things that divide us, should become the body and blood of Christ. More so than the bread and wine, we, the people, are meant to be changed, to be transubstantiated.

The Eucharist, as sacrifice, asks us to become the bread of brokenness and the chalice of vulnerability. (Ron Rolheiser.)

Music: Broken for me. 3:15 dur. Here

Table of Hope - Hapag ng Pag-Asa. (Last supper with street children)

More music resources

Eat this bread for meditation. 4:30 dur Here

Come to the table. 3:05 dur. Here

Table of plenty by Dan Schutte. 2:52 dur. Here

Remember Me sung by Joe Wise 6:27 dur Here

One bread one body sung by John Michael Talbot 4:38 dur. Here

One bread, one body, one Lord of all.

One cup of blessing, which we bless.

And we, though many, throughout the earth,

we are one body in this one Lord.

Let us break bread together – spiritual. Version with Steel band from Trinidad. 1:35 dur. Here

Let us break bread together on our knees; 

Let us drink wine together on our knees; 

Let us praise God together on our knees.

Take our bread we ask you.  For the presentation of gifts. 2:41 dur. Here

Tantum Ergo – with literal English translation. 13^th century St Thomas Aquinas. French carol melody. 1:49 dur. Here

I am the bread of life. Jaime Thietton. 3:49 dur. Here

 Illustration on main page - The last supper by Sieger Koder.