This is My Body; This is My Blood

This is My Body; This is My Blood

Lk 9:11b-17

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Introduction

Today is the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. For us, the body and blood of Christ is made present in the Holy Eucharist during the celebration of the Holy Mass. The reading today speaks about the Multiplication of the bread, a reading that speaks to us about the Eucharist.

The Gospel

Our Gospel begins with Jesus speaking to the crowd about the Kingdom of God. He also healed those who needed to be cured. One could imagine the crowd that wanted to hear and be cured by him.  As the day drew to a close, the twelve approached Jesus and said: “ dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.” The twelve must have been alarmed at the sight of a huge crowd who were still there. They were in a deserted place, far away from any establishment.

However, to their surprise, Jesus tells them: “ Give them some food yourselves.” At this, they answered Jesus: “Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people.” Apparently, that was all that they had. But they were willing to go get food for the crowd.  

Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “ Have them sit down in groups of about fifty.” They did so and made them all sit down. Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied. And when they leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.

Reflection

Our reading today might seem to us as another miracle. It might just seem to us like one of those amazing wonders that Jesus did using a handful of bread and fish, and eventually feeding a multitude. It is more than that. This reading has been used since early Christianity to capture the meaning of the Eucharist which was also known as the “breaking of bread.”  This reading captures the essence of the Eucharist in the following way:

First, the Eucharist happens always in the context of a meal. Meals are occasions of fellowship where people get together to share their presence and spend time to celebrate. The Lord wants us to remember him within a context of a meal, a celebration, a fellowship.

The instruction for the crowd to sit down indicated that they were preparing for a meal. To sit down in those days was a posture which was clearly meant to be a posture for eating. When we gather around the Eucharist, the Lord who gives himself as food comes to us as a joyful and celebratory encounter with him and with all who partake of his body and blood.

Secondly, the abundance of food that was distributed to all in today’s reading seem to suggest that in the Eucharist, there is so much abundance. The blessing was so abundant, that the multitude had their fill and had even plenty of leftovers. The Eucharist is God’s grace abundantly overflowing. In the body and blood of Jesus, we receive grace upon grace, blessing upon blessing to our heart’s content. The Eucharist is God’s generosity which immeasurably overflows.

Thirdly, the Eucharist is handed out to all. It is indiscriminately given to everyone; to the old, the young, the sick and the healthy, the good and the bad. This is typical of the Lord who blesses everyone. The Lord doesn’t discriminate nor does he withhold the gift of himself to those who are bad or unworthy. This is precisely the nature of grace. Grace is given gratuitously, meaning, it is given freely to anyone even if they don’t deserve such a blessing. Worthy or not, the Lord pours out himself abundantly to everyone.

Fourthly, the Eucharist is indeed God’s love and concern for us. In the story of the multiplication of the bread and fish, Jesus was very concerned that the crowd be not sent away. Instead of sending them away to fend for themselves in a place that was deserted, Jesus took for himself the concerns of everyone. Even when not asked and requested to do so, Jesus provided food. It shows us that the Lord knows what we need even before we ask him. He gives it at the right time and the right place. He is our provider.

Lastly, the Eucharist is born out of the small offerings that we have. The Lord asked his disciples what they had. Because of the five loaves and two fish that were available there, Jesus took the little that was available and transformed this into something extraordinary.

The bread and wine that we offer in the Holy Eucharist, the fruits of the earth and the work of human hands is transformed into God’s body and blood. The little that we have is transformed by God into something overwhelming. So let us offer to the Lord without hesitation, even the little that we have so that he may transform these into his blessings.  

The body and the blood of Jesus is God’s own life being poured out for us. It is God’s generosity, freely and indiscriminately given to us whose little and feeble efforts are transformed into immeasurable and abundant grace and blessings for us.  Let us thank and bless the Lord for this wonderful gift!

Prayer

Jesus, today, I am simply overwhelmed by your generosity. When you give yourself, you give yourself totally to us without reserve. Transform the little that we have and make it your own so that we may experience the abundance of your grace and blessings. Amen.

“the Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” – 1 Cor 11: 24