Corpus Christi - the presence of Jesus in the world- A meditation by Fr Tesfa Negusse

Corpus Christi

This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).  At the Last Supper, Jesus and his disciples gathered around a table to share their last meal together before his death. Jesus loved his disciples very much. And so on the night in which he was betrayed, he took bread and, after giving thanks, broke it, saying, “This is my body which is for you; do this in memory of me.” In the same way, taking the cup after the supper, he said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do it in memory of me”.

This is what we celebrate in the Mass. When we gather as a church or school family to receive the Body of Christ, we show that we are united as the Body of Christ. When we share with our neighbour, we become sisters and brothers in Jesus, and bring his life and love into the world.

The Church is a place where rich and the poor, black and white, old and young are all called to gather together around Christ’s table. At the Eucharist we pray as one God’s family, praising God for all his gifts and above all for his unconditional love for each one of us.

Jesus said: ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall never be hungry, and whoever believes in me shall never be thirsty’. Jesus is promising us that if we come to him and believe in his words we shall never be hungry or thirsty. He will provide us with what we need in our daily life, above all he will offer us his love, forgiveness and grace, so that we may be able to share his love and forgiveness with our brothers and sisters.

Following the teaching of Jesus, we believe that everyone is chosen and special and a valuable part of the family of God. We believe that God created our beautiful world; a world where everyone should have the basic things we need in life. Jesus is inviting us to be good members of this great family of God. This family of God is a place where all people are called to gather around the table with Jesus, to share his bread of life.

The Eucharist is a sacrament of love and a sign of unity. The word communion reminds us of union and community. We celebrate our union with Christ and our community with people locally and globally. Let us remember those who do not have daily bread, those with no home and those who live in war areas and those who are persecuted for their belief in Jesus. May Jesus the bread of life satisfy their hunger and quench their thirst.

Dear Jesus, we thank you for all your gifts, especially for the gift of yourself in Holy Communion. Help us to share all our gifts with our sisters and brothers, especially with those who have nothing. Thank you for all we have received.

Amen