THE BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD – YEAR C. JUNE 10TH 2007
There is a saying: “You are what you eat.”
In the Eucharist, we believe that “we become what we receive…” In Eucharist…we receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ….. and in so doing….we trust in // and engage directly // with the grace of God that it contains …… that it might transform us to become more and more like Jesus with every passing day………..in our values, in our union with Jesus ….. in our being………. this is what we are celebrating today, and each time we receive holy communion…….
It was wonderful last weekend to celebrate with our young ones who received their confirmation and first holy communion …. and to have bishop Finnigan with us……. it is a strong sign of our communion with eachother and with the nwider universal church which derives its source from our communion in jesus…..
I truly believe.. that as exciting as first holy communion is… there is only one thing better than one’s first holy communion… and that is one’s second holy communion….. and there is only one thing better than second holy communion and that is third…. and so on…… it sets up a pattern of communion with the body and blood of Christ in our daily life……
I also think it is particularly beautiful….. we believe in the God of the incarnation…. God made flesh……. and so, God, who was made flesh and dwelt among us, understands intimately that we human beings are both spirit AND flesh… and as such…. we need tangible….touchable….. sacraments so that we may engage with the realities of God’s love and Jesus’ presence …not only intellectually….but also physically…… and materially……. God gives us sacraments so that we can not only think about God’s care for us, God’s healing, forgiving and uniting plan for us… but we can actually engage with it… and feel it and touch it…. and taste it…..
this is a gift of inexplicable value……
and we celebrate today… Jesus Christ, who comes to us and makes his home in us, through the sacrament of his body and blood….
No comments:
Post a Comment