HOMILY: Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
John 6:51-58
11 June 2023
Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA
I think it is safe to say we all like receiving gifts, right? What is the best gift you have ever received? Was it something bought from a store or one that is home and personally made? I think you would agree that what matters most is… if the giver is special to you or someone you love. Gifts need not be expensive and often the most appreciated ones are those that come from the heart.
In the Last Supper, the very last time Jesus and his friends were gathered under happy circumstances, the disciples received a very special parting gift from Him. It was not just a store-bought gift but rather a very special one. Jesus prepared a way for His friends to always have Him with them; to always remember Him and what He had taught them and done for them. He left His closest friends with the gift of Himself in the Eucharist. As friends of Jesus, it is also this this greatest ‘Gift’ that He has for each one of us.
We believe that the Eucharist is Jesus Himself, because Jesus Himself said so… “I am the bread come down from heaven.” (John 6:51) Although we only see the bread and wine on the altar, we believe that during the consecration, the Holy Spirit descends upon them to change the bread and wine into Jesus’ Body and Blood. This is what we call Transubstantiation. It just means that although the bread and wine may look the same, its substance has already been transformed by God’s love and mercy into the Body and Blood of His Son, Jesus. When the host and the wine are elevated and the priest repeats the words of Jesus “Take and eat, this is my body” and “Take and drink, this is my blood”, (1 Corinthians 11:24-25) we affirm this by gazing up at the bread and wine and quietly acknowledging “My Lord and My God!” (John 20:28)
Now, isnt it true that when we give someone we love very much a gift, we try our best to make an effort? Hindi puwede ang puwede na. Dapat espesyal! There is sacrifice involved when we save up to give something we know will bring joy to the recipient. If the recipient ignores our gift or takes it for granted, it becomes very hurtful, di ba? Jesus is giving us the gift of Himself in Holy Communion. He asks us to receive Him into our heart, body, and soul. Since it is Jesus, Himself, we are receiving, we should always approach the sacred host with love, reverence, respect, and devotion! Let us ask ourselves when we fall in line for communion, “Are we fully aware of the valuable gift we receive or are we taking it for granted? “Pila, kain, luhod, tapos na? Puwede na ulit lumipad ang isip? Sana hindi.” (Queue up, eat, kneel… and then it is over? It is done so the mind can wander off again. I hope not.) This is a time for us to speak to Jesus. Let us tell Him our pains and ask for His help. Let us thank Him for the everyday blessings and graces we receive. Let us tell Him how much we love Him. He has our undivided attention. He is there; He is present for us.
This is the reason why we are encouraged to prepare ourselves to receive Him. At the start of the mass, we examine our conscience and ask forgiveness for our sins as part of our internal preparation. (We may even have to go to confession if the offense is grave.) We also prepare our bodies by dressing appropriately and carrying ourselves with dignity. My aunts taught us to dress well for Church. “Kahit luma, basta malinis at maayos.” Our pambahay, pang-beach, pang-clubbing and pamalengke clothes are best used elsewhere. (They need not be new clothes as long as they are clean and decent. Clothes worn at home, for the beach, for clubbing and marketing are best used elsewhere.) We properly dispose ourselves by observing the one (1) hour fast before communion and an air of solemnity as we quietly and prayerfully wait for our turn in the communion line. When it is our turn, we bow in reverence, answer “Amen” as we receive Jesus and quietly return to our seats to kneel in reverence and allow ourselves to revel in the intimate moment where our powerful, loving and merciful God is one with us. We must always be aware of how special this moment is! We are receiving the Lord Himself. As Jesus Himself said: “My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.” (John 6:55) We get to be super close to Jesus Christ, “the bread come down from heaven” (John 6:51) who continues to nourish and strengthen us so we can resist evil and temptation and persevere in doing good.
On a final note, know that when we receive Holy Communion and become so closely united with Jesus Christ, we also become united with one another. The Eucharist is what makes us the Church. Through our union with Christ, we are also united deeply with one another as the Body of Christ — some of us will be the ‘eyes’ that see where Jesus is most needed, some will be the ‘lips’ to bravely proclaim His glory, while others will become ‘hands’ to help and feet to run to the aid of others. We all form the Body of Christ. We move in the world bringing Jesus to each other and especially to those who still do not know Him. When we receive the Eucharist, our soul is fed. Nutritionists and dietitians will say, we are what we eat, meaning we are healthy if we eat healthy. When we receive Holy Communion, we receive Jesus and it is our hope that we become more and more like Him. Together, we become one in Christ.
On this Feast of Corpus Christi, let us remember what a precious gift Jesus gives us. He says “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in Me and I in Him… and will have life because of Me…and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:54) Every chance we have, let us joyfully receive this gift; desire the opportunity to partake of this gift that we may never be without Jesus in the Eucharist. We do so with the hope that one day, we find ourselves united with Jesus in heaven.
Sunday Gospel Reflections 