Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus – Cycle A
I know that I’ve never been actually hungry. Food is all around me and I can take it at any time. But when I hear Moses say “He let you be afflicted with hunger, then fed you with manna….that you might know that not by bread alone does one live, but by every word from the mouth of God” I really resonate with that. I have counted calories and dragged myself away from the table and fought off food cravings just about every day of my adult life. I think I know what it is to be hungry, to go to bed hungry, to fixate on food and dream about it.
Today Moses tells the Hebrew people who lived and hungered with him in the desert all those years to remember what it was like when they were utterly dependent on God for the astonishing manna—a food unknown to their parents—sent from the sky six days a week to heal their hunger.
That’s where hunger can take you—weak enough to be ready to accept the gift of healing which God alone can give. This manna wasn’t what they were used to. It came from the sky and was probably some sort of chewy dew. They were grateful to accept it, and their bodies were made strong with it, and there are no accounts of a single one of them dying of hunger during the 40-year sojourn.
So on this day of gratitude we process, hungry, towards the Body and Blood of Jesus. We remember our hunger, and who alone can heal it. Come to the feast.
Can you remember any experiences of the power of the Eucharist in your life?
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I have come to light a fire on the earth; how I wish it were already burning (Lk.12:49).
I believe I am one of those guilty of taking the Eucharist for granted. Thanks for reminding me of this great Miracle.
-Cris
One of my neighbors is the senior pastor at the United Methodist Church in town. He is a nice guy. Last summer, he gave me a grocery bag and asked me to participate in their semi-annual food drive on August 1. They play U2 music and receive “communion” for one of a few times in the year. I filled the bag and made him a card explaining that I thought the title of their celebration “U2charist” was disrespectful to Jesus and suggested that they consider “U2 can help feed the world” or another similar title that didn’t disrespect Jesus. I was calm and non-confrontational. He used that experience in his sermon the following day. The audio of the sermon is available at
Just last week, I listened to his sermon. He misinterpreted a couple of things I said and did. I did not claim to have purchased at least one of everything on the list and two of some — that would have filled way more than one bag. I didn’t participate out of “Catholic guilt.” I explained the Sacrament of Reconciliation that makes guilt a useless emotion. I neither charged nor challenged him on his understanding of the Eucharist, but I did write him an e-mail after I listened to the sermon to let him know just where in scripture the beginning of the Eucharist could be found.
I wrote that if I had presented the Catholic belief poorly, my bad, and asked for forgiveness, but if he disagreed with Catholic belief, the answers are in scripture.
His response was kind and “lite.” He didn’t address any of the theological issues. I didn’t find that surprising, since he called my understanding of communion “illogical standing” in his sermon.
I love the fact that we belong to the Church founded by Jesus Christ. I love the fact that our priests are able to transubstantiate normal bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. I love the Body of Christ!
http://www.today's epistle.com
P.S. According to their senior pastor, Broomfield United Methodist Church hasn’t had another “U2charist” celebration since August 1, 2010.
Link to the audio sermon is:
I don’t know why the link to the sermon isn’t posting. I will give it one more try.
http://www.today'sepistle.com
The power of Eucharist is what keeps me a Catholic. I have opportunity to visit different churches because I like to participate in events that are often held there. I walk into the sanctuary or the worship space and I feel a kind of emptiness because I am so “used to” the fullness of the sacramental presence of Jesus in Catholic churches. Of course, after Good Friday services and then on Holy Saturday I am so aware the Blessed Sacrament “is hidden.” The church building seems different.
In one parish I was privileged to take Eucharist to the sick at home and in the hospital. Sometimes I even brought Jesus to my sick mother. Wow! How can anything be more powerful than to carry Him to those who are in need of healing. But isn’t everyone of us who processes up to receive Communion during Mass in need of transformation? All we have to do is believe and allow Jesus to work in us.
As an extraordinary minister I am so deeply moved by the babes in arms whose eyes follow the Host from me to parent. Those little ones seem to have more yearning than I do sometimes. They teach me what it is to want Jesus. They are focused and aware, perhaps not in theological terms, but with holy innocence. Sometimes they even extend their arms and reach out. It makes me wonder how often I reach out to Jesus.
My granddaughter received her first commumion on May 1st, I remember the look in her eyes and the wonder of that moment when she finally got to receive Jesus for the first time.
I pray that she will always feel as close to Jesus as she did that day! Looking at all the little faces, I thought how Jesus said we have to become like little children.
It has been my privilege to walk the journey of faith with converts and see them receive Jesus for the first time @ the Easter Vigil. My heart is touched and my eyes tear up to be present and share this experience with them!
I pray that we “cradle Catholics” do not take for granted this heavenly banquet that makes Jesus present to us at every Mass.
“We come to your feast…the young and the old, the greatest and the least”