Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Every Mass is a participation in and celebration of the sacrifice of Christ. The feast of Corpus Christi is celebrated to heighten our awareness of the gift of the Eucharist. Let the love of Christ course through our lives and heal us.
“Jesus did not just leave us the Scriptures, He gave us food, for it is not easy to forget something we have actually tasted. He left us bread in which he is truly present, alive and true, with all the flavour of His love. Receiving Him we can say: “He is the Lord; He remembers me!” that is why Jesus told us: “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor 11:24). Do! The Eucharist is not simply an act of remembrance; it is a fact: the Lord’s Passover is made present once again for us. In Mass the death and resurrection of Jesus are set before us. Do this in remembrance of me: come together and celebrate the Eucharist as a community, as a people, as a family, in order to remember me. We cannot do without the Eucharist, for it is God’s memorial. And it heals our wounded memory.”
Homily of Pope Francis on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. 14 June 2020
Readings
Deut 8:2-3, 14-16: He gave you food which you and your ancestors did not know.
Ps 147:12-15, 19-20: R. Praise the Lord Jerusalem
1 Cor 10:16-17 Though we are many, we form a single body because we share this one loaf.
Alleluia, alleluia! I am the living bread from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever. Alleluia!
Jn 6:51-58 My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
Reflection on the Readings
Listen to a 30 minute conversation reflecting on these readings in the Homily Studio HERE
Prayer of the Faithful suggestions
Response: E te Ariki. Whakarongo mai rā kia mātou.
For the Church: that through our sharing in the Eucharist, we may be transformed more and more into the Body of Christ. E te Ariki …
For Christian unity: that Christ’s Body and Blood given for us may heal all the divisions within the Christian community. E te Ariki …
For all Eucharistic ministers particularly those who minister to the sick and homebound: that they may grow in faith through their service and be signs of God’s love, healing, and presence to others. E te Ariki …
Music suggestions
Psalm for this feast of Corpus Christi Year A HERE
Eat this bread for meditation. Taize song 3.41 dur. HERE
Table of plenty by Dan Schutte. 2:52 dur. HERE
One bread, one body by John Foley. 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.