Reflection for Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ – Corpus Christi

We use the word ” real ” to street that what we are presenting is true and sincere. Jesu intended to stress the truth when he spoke about himself as the Bread of Life. Jesus said, “My flesh is real food and my blood real drink.” This is one of the few places in the gospels Jesus makes it a point to stress, this is real.
Jesus found it important to have his followers believe in the reality of his presence in the Eucharistic bread and wine. Jesus wanted to enter our lives in a most tangible way, not as a symbol and not as a memory. Thus as Catholics, we speak of the Eucharist as the ” real presence “For Christ is really present in the Eucharist . It is the real Body and Blood of Christ which seeks to enter our lives as as to bring to us real forgiveness, real hope,real strength,I and real peace.
In a world of imitation wood, artificial flavor, and fake foods, we have come not to expect ” the reality thing.” In a world of counterfeits, we begin to question the reality of everything. The reality of God’s presence with us is not something new. Throughout the ages, God has sought to manifest himself to his people in real ways.
We see this throughout the Old Testament. Our reading from Deuteronomy, recounting the giving of manna to fee Israel in the desert, is but one of the examples of the real activity of God in the life of his people. But the most tangible sign of his presence with his people is the presence of Jesus, his son. God is with his people.
Jesus sought to make the presence of God a real experience in the lives of the people. He did this by forgiveness, healings, and truth. It cannot be surprising then that he, who embodied the real presence of God with us, would not also want to remain present with us in a very real way. To have real belief in the real presence of Christ does take a leap of faith. It is a leap into the arms of a real God who seeks to be a part of the reality of our lives.
In the real world we need the real presence of Christ. This we have in the Eucharist. We know this as truth. ” My flesh is real food and my blood real drink. The one who feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him”
May God bless you all
Fr. Dominic
Your brother in Christ