Corpus Christi

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ 

(Corpus Christi)

~~~Exodus 24:3-8~~~Psalm 116~~~ Hebrews 9:11-15~~~

~~~Mark 14:12-16, 22-26~~~

Then he 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 of his."

Being sprinkled with blood seems foreign

 and even barbaric to us today.

In the time when Moses was leading the Israelites 

such a sprinkling was very important.

It was their custom to sacrifice a warm blooded 

live animal as an offering to God. 

They believed this was pleasing to God.

They believed that it signified their holy relationship with God.

This blood confirmed and sealed their covenant with God,

as he had revealed to Moses.

Moses revealed to the people all that God had told him.

He wrote it down exactly as he had been told.

He must have delivered God's message with conviction and passion,

because the people agreed to do exactly as God commanded.

Today the church celebrates the great mystery

 of the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Throughout the pages of the Old Testament God 

consistently revealed tiny sparks of what was to be revealed 

when his son, Jesus, would be sent to us.

God took this graphic blood ritual and gave us the Eucharist.

Jesus came to fulfill the law, as he says, not to abolish it.

Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice.

His blood will flow freely from his body,

not only for the present but for all eternity.

It is Jesus, who freely gives himself to us 

under the appearance of bread and wine;

what today we call Eucharist.

As you receive the Body and Blood of Jesus

 recall the words of Psalm 116...

 I will take the cup of salvation, 

and call on the name of the Lord.

May the Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord

be alive in your soul.

May His consecrated Body and Blood 

be a living source of nourishment for all of your days.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven,

says the Lord;

whoever eats this bread will live forever.

(John 6:51)

Receive the many Blessings 

from Corpus Christi.

They were given for you.

~~~Peace~~~