Corpus Christi, The Body of Christ, The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

The Gospel for this feast day is taken from the Gospel according to Mark.  http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/061012.cfm.  In the first part of the reading we are told, almost incidentally, that it was “On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb …”  Later in the same passage Mark, again almost nonchalantly, tells us that “While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said …”  Up to this point, it is mere context, a setting of the stage as it were.  Then Jesus says, what are for me literally the most incredible words ever spoken, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.”

What could it possibly mean for a person to say to others in the context of a Paschal meal when the Passover lamb is sacrificed …

This is my body [and I would like to add] broken for you. 

This is my blood [and again I would like to add] poured out for you.

And in that context these others were asked to eat and drink; that is, to consume, to become one with …

No one in all of human history, as far as I know, ever said anything like these words; and then to be asked to eat, to be offered, that body broken; drink that cup, poured out.  In some fundamental sense, the whole of my adult life has been in search of the meaning of this person, these words.  When I am able to attend to these words in the Eucharist, I am overwhelmed.

To get at what is going on, then and now, is to answer that question, what could this person saying these words possibly mean?  An untold number of books have been written, thousands of years have passed, millions, no billions, of lives have been lived.  And today our church asks us to pause and reflect.  This is the Good News!

I would like to focus our attention on two phases, to limit, so as to be able to reflect.

Not just any body, but my body, and not just my body, but my body broken … broken … broken.  Not just any blood, but my blood, and not just my blood, but my blood poured out … poured out … poured out. 

And why?  “For you.”  Not for my Father, not for God.  But for us, all of us, everyone one of us.

What a person!  No human life can ever be the same.  All of human life, the life of every human person that ever lived, is living, will ever live, has been placed in a totally different context by this person and these words.

And now to the “you.”  This “you” is always concrete, real, individual and personal and, might I add, messy.  Not some abstract concept.  When you gather at the Eucharist, at every Eucharist, at any Eucharist, this dynamic interpersonal, historical event is remembered – Do this in memory of me.  And that body is quite concrete.  When you gather next at the Eucharist, look around at the actual people who are gathered at that Eucharist.  Keep them in mind, all the ones that you know and most of whom you do not know.  Keep in mind that they, including the presider whether priest,  bishop, or pope have one think in common.  We are all sinners; our lives are broken, poured out.  And it is for us as that for the sake of which he offers broken and poured out, body and blood.  Not for his Father, not for God but because we need this.  We need to be saved by what is common to us all, broken and poured out.

No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

When next you experience life broken, poured out, remember, he too … And remember precisely when you experience life broken, poured out; your own life or the life of the other, remember we are not alone, ever, never.  And your remembering is always in the concrete, I was hungry, I was thirsty, I was sick, I was imprisoned … Be that for the other at those times and you will find as he did, resurrection – the fullness of life, now and forever!

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”