23 June 2019
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
In today’s Gospel Jesus speaks to the crowd about his Kingdom, and he heals the sick and feeds the hungry. That is reassuring, but today is the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. Wouldn’t the account of the first Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper been more appropriate?
No. And for two reasons. First: Aren’t we who line up to receive the Eucharist today much like the people described in the Gospel? We come to hear the Word of God and, like the apostles, we bring the needs of others throughout the world to Him.
Along with millions of others we try to satisfy our hunger with power, money, sex, drugs and reputation. But such items will never completely satisfy, and so Jesus repeats to his modern apostles the words he addressed to the apostles in today’s Gospel: “Give them food yourselves:” food that will satisfy. Pray for those who hunger.
Jesus will repeat today’s gestures on Holy Thursday when he will say the blessing, and break the bread and give his body and blood to his disciples “to set before the crowd.” And second: The Eucharist is the meal where the Lord gives us the strength to progress toward the Eternal Kingdom.
Pray for the many who have given up going to Mass. Pray for an increase of apostles today to give those who hunger the Body and Blood of Christ.