Exodus 24:3-8; Ps 115; Hebrews 9:11-15; Mc. 16.22-26
Everlasting covenant
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, last week I explained to you about the origin of the feast of the Blessed sacrament, which was celebrated in the Diocese of Liege in 147, then extended to the universal Church in 1264 by Pope Urban IV. Allow me to reflect with you this Sunday the meaning of the feast for us today. The Corpus Christi is the sign of Christ's presence among us through the sacramental signs of the consecrated host in the tabernacles of all our chapels and churches in the world. It is God sealing a new covenant with us.
In the first reading, Exodus 24:3-8, Moses makes a covenant with his people by building an altar in order to offer sacrifices for peace. To conclude this covenant, Moses poured half of the blood on the altar and half of the blood on the people. However, this blood of animals was limited, although it was a sign of the covenant. And the people did not respect their promise to keep the covenant.
In the second reading from the letter to the Hebrews, Christ the perfect and High priest, has poured out his most precious blood for the final liberation from sin and death and for the total purification and sanctification. We note that the Eucharist is our life and our salvation. This is confirmed by the words of Jesus:
“I’m the bread that comes down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread , will have eternal life” (John 6:51)
The Gospel gives us the account of the institution of the Eucharist, whereby Jesus utters the words of blessings over the bread and said:
“Take and eat”
and over the wine and said:
“This is my blood; the blood of everlasting covenant, poured out for you and for the multitude”
(Mc. 14: 27-26)
Let us acknowledge and adore the real presence of Jesus in the eucharist! He remains among usuntil the end of the world. He dwells on so many altars though so often offended and profaned. May we take any opportunity for us to be at Mass or in adoration as an hour in paradise. It is indeed our divine banquet. It is our divine encounter. We need to believe. We need an act of faith!
O Sacrament most holy, o sacrament Divine. All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine!
Living the Gospel this Week “Staying with the Lord”
Mt 26:40
I recall Jesus awakening Peter and asking him a very serious question:
“Could you not stay awake with me for even one hour?”
(Mt. 26:40)
1) Pray with the psalms of your choice: praise, thanksgiving, repentance or wisdom.
2) Meditate on the “our Father”
3) Use the scriptures for the life of saints: Therese of Lisieux, Catherine of Siena, Francis of Assisi, Thomas Aquinas, Peter Julian Eymard, Dorothy Day, Mother Teresa of Kolkata. You may read any of them and their prayer before the blessed sacrament.
4) Be silent and listen to Him.
O Sacrament most holy, o sacrament Divine. All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine!
Have a wonderful week!
Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC