RECEIVE AND ADORE - CORPUS CHRISTI (6/6/2021)

Exodus 24:3-8
Psalm 116
Hebrews 9:11-15
Sequence
Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

The origin of this feast goes back to the 13th century, which some Church historians have called “the greatest of all centuries” because it was such an “age of faith.” Through the efforts of many people, especially St. Juliana de Cornillon and St. Thomas Aquinas, this solemnity was instituted for the whole Church by Pope Urban IV in 1264. The Eucharist is honored, of course, on Holy Thursday. But because that day also commemorates other events connected with the sufferings and death of the Lord, another feast was needed to give more focus to the Blessed Sacrament.

EXODUS

Our first reading describes the covenant between God and the people of Israel. This covenant was ratified by animal sacrifice and the sprinkling of blood. This reading may sound somewhat unusual for today’s feast, but we recall that the full name for today is. “The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.” The emphasis today is very much on the Precious Blood.

Just as the Old Covenant used the blood of animals, we now participate in the New Covenant through the Blood of Christ. The Responsorial, Psalm 116, alludes to the “cup of salvation,” communion in the Blood of Jesus.

HEBREWS

Today’s second reading contrasts the Old Covenant, which used the blood of animals, with the New Covenant, when Christ the High Priest enters the sanctuary “with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.”

The author emphasizes how much more powerful the Blood of Christ is, “who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God to cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.”

Some years ago, I composed some verses to the song “Sanctuary” based on this passage in Hebrews. One of them is:

Christ has entered the sanctuary;
With His own Blood we are redeemed.
In the heavens as our High Priest,
With the Father, He intercedes.

SEQUENCE

The beautiful Sequence, Lauda Sion (“Praise, O Zion”), was composed by St. Thomas Aquinas. It is lengthy but a shorter form is also provided. Unlike the sequences on Easter and Pentecost, it is optional.

GOSPEL

Today’s gospel from Mark describes the preparation for the Passover meal. The passage then goes directly to the “institution narrative,” the words of Jesus: “Take it, this is my body…This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.” Typical of Mark’s gospel, it is direct and to the point, with no other references to anything else at the Last Supper.

RECEIVE, ADORE AND GIVE THANKS

In today’s readings, there is an emphasis on covenant and blood sacrifice – reminding us of the incredibly costly price of our redemption. It would seem that our primary focus today should be one of thanksgiving – which is what the Greek word eucharistia actually means. As the Responsorial Psalm says, “How shall I make a return to the Lord, for all the good he has done for me? The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the Lord.”