Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

The Supper at Emmaus, by Caravaggio 1601

“And they recognized the Lord in the breaking of the bread.”

(Lk. 24:35)

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ 

  June 2, 2013

Genesis: 14: 18-20   I Corinthian 11:23-26   Luke 9:11-17

1^st reading

In those days, Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine, and being a priest of God Most High, he blessed Abram with these words: "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who delivered your foes into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 

2^nd reading

Brothers and sisters: I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night He was handed over, took bread, and, after He had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way he took the cup after the supper and said, "This cup is the new covenant, sealed with my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

The word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Alleluia, alleluia.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Glory to you, Lord.

 Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed to be cured. As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said, "Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here." He said to them, "Give them some food yourselves." They replied, "Five loaves and two fishes are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people." Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Then he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty." They did so and made them all sit down. Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.

 

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Introduction

Jesus’ promise to not leave us orphans

In his Ascension Jesus promised He would not leave us orphans but would be with us to the end of time. (Jn. 14:18). He kept his promise by sending us the Holy Spirit. We celebrated that last Sunday with the feast of Pentecost. He kept his promise to not leave us orphans also by giving us the Eucharist--his abiding presence under the form of bread and wine. We celebrate that this Sunday with the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

Jesus present in the bread

In the not too distant past the Eucharistic life of the Church emphasized Jesus present in the bread. We gazed upon the Eucharistic bread held on high at the elevation of the Mass. We even rang a bell at the moment of elevation to make sure everyone was looking at Jesus present in the bread.  On big feast days we climaxed Mass with benediction of the Blessed Sacrament; the Eucharist encased in a golden monstrance was held on high so all could gaze upon Jesus present in the bread. We crowned our gazing at Jesus present in the bread with the feast of Corpus Christi. Under a processional canopy the priest carried the Eucharist encased in a very elaborate and gem-studded monstrance held on high. The procession made its way over flower-strewn paths in villages in valleys and hamlets on hills, so that the faithful along the way could gaze upon Jesus present in the bread.

Jesus present in the breaking of the bread

In this new day the emphasis is not so much on Jesus present in the bread, but rather Jesus present in the breaking of the bread. That’s a notable difference, and it is quite scriptural. When two of the disciples were on the road to Emmaus, as they were walking along and talking, the risen Lord appeared and asked what they were discussing. They related to Him all the great events that had just happened that first Easter morning. The disciples, however, didn’t recognize that it was Jesus. As they drew near to Emmaus, they said to the stranger, “Sir, it’s getting dusk, why don’t you come and stay with us?” He stayed and had supper with them. At table, He took bread, said a blessing over it and then broke the bread and gave it to the disciples. Their eyes were opened, and they recognized the Lord in the breaking of the bread. (Lk. 24:13-35)

Bread broken by Pope Francis

This past Tuesday, May 21, 2013, Swiss theologian Hans Küng writes:

 

Who could have imagined what has happened in the last weeks? When I decided months ago to resign all of my official duties on the occasion of my 85^th birthday, I assumed I would never see fulfilled my dream that -- after all the setbacks following the Second Vatican Council -- the Catholic Church would once again experience the kind of rejuvenation that it did under Pope John XXIII.

Then my theological companion over so many decades, Joseph Ratzinger [Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI], also 85, suddenly announced his resignation from the papal office effective at the end of February. And on March 19, St. Joseph’s feast day and my birthday, a new pope with the surprising and programmatic name `Francis’ assumed this office.

Did Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio wonder why no pope has dared to choose the name of `Francis’ until now? At any rate, the Argentine was aware that with the name of `Francis’ he was connecting himself with Francis of Assisi, the world-famous 13^th century downshifter who had been the fun-loving, worldly son of a rich textile merchant in Assisi, until at the age of 24, he gave up his family, wealth and career, even giving his splendid clothes back to his father. It is astonishing how, from the first minute of his election, Pope Francis chose a new style: unlike his predecessor, no miter with gold and jewels, no ermine-trimmed cape, no made-to-measure red shoes and headwear, no magnificent throne.

 

And to Hans Küng’s list we add: no plush papal living quarters – just a very simple apartment in the Casa Santa Marta.

Pope Francis’ breaking of the bread

One evening Pope Francis felt sorry for the poor Swiss Guard who stood at attention every night until dawn at the door of his simple apartment in the Casa Santa Marta. So he went and got the poor man a chair, and told him, “At least sit down and rest." The guard rolled his eyes and answered: “Santo Padre, forgive me, but I may not sit down! The regulations don’t allow that." The Pope smiled, "Oh, really? Well, I'm the Pope and I tell you to sit down." Then Francis went back to his apartment, and minutes later returned to the Swiss Guard who was still obediently seated in the chair.  Pope Francis was carrying a panino con marmallata (a little Italian bread spread with jam) which he had prepared for the guard. The Swiss Guard’s eyes were opened, and he recognized the Lord in Pope Francis’ breaking of the bread.

Conclusion

Present in both

Is Jesus present in the bread, or is He present in the breaking of the bread? Catholic faith says He’s present in both. He’s present in the bread reserved in the tabernacle. He is present in the bread of the monstrance, as it processes through villages in valleys and hamlets on hills. And He is present in the breaking of the bread. He was present when good Pope Francis broke bread - panino con marmallata - with an utterly surprised Swiss Guard on the nightshift.