Today we simply want to awaken love and wonder for that magnificent miracle that is the Eucharist, which many do not believe in and which many others may have grown accustomed to. Through this sacrament, Jesus makes himself present among us; indeed, he even comes within us to unite us to himself and give us his divine life. We believe in the Eucharist because we believe in Jesus, who is God, and nothing is impossible for God; and the Eucharistic miracles, more than 140 throughout the world, simply “confirm” this truth. “If only we could understand who that God is whom we receive in Communion, what purity of heart we would bring to him!” exclaimed Saint Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi. Let us therefore renew within us wonder, respect, and love for the Eucharist: God with us, God in us, God for us.
Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (s) (B)
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Texts taken from the Missalette “On Your Word” May-June 2021
FIRST READING
From the Book of Exodus (Ex 24:3-8)
In those days, Moses went and reported to the people all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances. All the people answered with one voice, saying: “All the commandments that the Lord has given, we will carry out!” Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. He commissioned some young Israelites to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice young bulls as communion offerings to the Lord. Moses took half of the blood and put it into bowls, and the other half he splashed on the altar. Then he took the book of the covenant and read it aloud in the presence of the people. They said: “All that the Lord has said, we will do, and we will heed.” Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying: “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words!”
Commentary on the First Reading
God and his people Israel enter into a covenant. This mutual desire for communion, closeness, and cooperation is ratified through a blood sacrifice at the foot of Mount Sinai. Moses is the priest who, on behalf of the entire people, pours part of the blood of the sacrificed young bulls on the altar while reading the book of the covenant. In the Jewish mentality, blood was the seat of life. For this reason, in the sacrifice Moses offers for the entire people, there is much more than the simple formal establishment of a covenant. Through this rite, God himself gives life to the people willing to observe the covenant made with him. This covenant, however, is simply the symbolic image of another eternal covenant: the one God established with all humanity through the blood of his Son Jesus. He is the true sacrificed lamb who redeems us and gives us life through his blood. Today, in this celebration, we remember the love of God who became tangible like bread in order to remain with us forever.
SECOND READING
From the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb 9:11-15)
Brothers and sisters, Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, through a greater and more perfect tent, not made by human hands, that is, not belonging to this creation. He entered once for all into the sanctuary, not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by virtue of his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and calves and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are defiled sanctify them and purify the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ - who, moved by the eternal Spirit, offered himself without blemish to God - cleanse our conscience from dead works so that we may serve the living God? For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant, so that, since his death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the eternal inheritance that was promised.
Commentary on the Second Reading
In the letter to Christians of Jewish origin, the Author warns us that it is no longer Moses, but Jesus, who is the priest offering the sacrifice. The blood poured out is no longer that of animals, but Christ’s own blood. If the ancient sacrifice purified the Jews, how much more can Christ’s sacrifice purify people and make them holy. Jesus enters a tent not made by human hands, and not the sanctuary of sacrifices. This is an extremely important difference, because it places us in fundamental distinction from all other religions. All religions, in fact, seek to “open” heaven from below; that is, through the effort of the will, sacrifices, and heroic living, they seek to reach God. But from below the passage is closed; it can be opened only from above, and Christ did this: he “opened” heaven and descended, making a relationship with God the Father possible. This is the tent he entered: it is his life, the only tent that can give us salvation. Through the Incarnation, Christ’s body is the “tent,” the living temple in which he offers his blood as a new and perfect sacrifice. Christ is temple, priest, and sacrifice: he is the mediator of a new covenant between us and God.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Mark (Mk 14:12-16, 22-26)
On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was sacrificed, the disciples said to Jesus: “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” Then he sent two of his disciples, saying to them: “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house: ‘The Teacher says: Where is my room, in which I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” The disciples went off and, entering the city, found everything as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them: “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out toward the Mount of Olives.
Commentary on the Gospel of the Day
We are at the culmination of human history. In the rite, Jesus lives out what he will shortly experience in reality: he anticipates the gift of his life, offering himself to his followers as food and drink. We have become so accustomed to hearing about the mystery of the Eucharist that it almost no longer touches us, yet it is an incredible reality. How can God offer himself as a sacrifice for us? How can God, who is the Eternal and the Ineffable, give himself to us as food? In the Eucharist, the mystery of the concrete nature of our faith is celebrated; it is truly tangible, not theoretical or abstract. As we nourish ourselves on the Bread of Life, it is Jesus who transforms us: he transforms us into himself, helps us become like him, think like him, and love like him. Communion, in fact, is not merely an encounter with Jesus in our hearts; it is something more. It is a moment that sends us to enter into communion with everyone, sends us to live our lives as Jesus lived his, sends us to “go” and give. Here we are dealing with the concrete reality of human life and everyday existence. The body and blood of Jesus, in fact, are signs of a real presence that also speaks of the sacredness of each person’s life: the incarnate Christ lives in every human being. Let each of us try to think of something we could give today, as soon as we return home from Mass, to make someone happy.
