First Reading:Exodus 24:3-8
Second Reading: Hebrews 9:11-15
Gospel: Mark 14:12-16, 22-26
Today’s solemnity of the Sacred Body and Blood of Christ is not just a memory of what happened about 2000 years ago at the Last Supper; it is a celebration of a present reality. Jesus Christ has remained permanently with us in all of His humanity and divinity! I will not leave you orphaned; I will come back to you. (Jn14:18)
When we receive the Body and Blood of Christ, we are transformed to be an agent of the love of Jesus Christ. We are to be Jesus in the world which we live. Do we walk out of Mass a transformed person?… or does it seem like nothing has changed, that is, you can’t see any difference in yourself.
We need to ask ourselves some questions first: How much preparation do I put into the Mass, into receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and what am I doing after I receive Jesus?
Just as our body needs food and we wouldn’t think of starving ourselves and missing a meal or meals; so too does our soul need food. Our soul needs “spiritual food” and this is the Holy Eucharist. When we miss Mass on Sunday without a compelling reason, we deprive our soul of the food needed to grow spiritually, to grow closer to Jesus Christ, to live a life of love that Jesus calls us to live. When we have Jesus enter the house of our soul, which is soiled by sin, the result is the same; we deprive ourselves of the proper nourishment for our soul. When we receive Jesus routinely or distracted or spend no time in thanksgiving with Jesus afterwards… our soul is again deprived.
Furthermore, we deprive ourselves of receiving the love of Jesus Christ, because we are not focused on others, but ourselves. We also set ourselves up for succumbing to temptations easily.
Let’s receive Jesus with the heart of Mary, as St. Louis de Montfort taught – Jesus seeing the heart of his mother will surely be pleased. Let’s entrust our preparation for receiving Jesus to Mary as well.
May God bless us always! Deacon Mike