Fr. F. X. Sudarmanto, SX
THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST SUNDAY
There is an Non-Government Organization (NGO) working for sustainable nourishment and agricultural promotion in my area. They support and guide the farmers to do their farming well. How effectively does it work, I do not really know. What I know is, at this time when rainy season just starts in Sierra Leone, people of Mongo Bendugu, most farmers, are very busy everyday in the farm. Even long before the rain comes down, they have prepared their farm by cutting the trees, brushing the and clearing the place. They go to the farm with almost all the family members, even children and babies, from the morning to the evening. Most of them even cook in the farm, they go back home only to rest and sleep.
They work together as an extended family, or as a group called in Koranko “kankele”. If I look at their solidarity and togetherness, I feel how they really enjoy their work. Of course the work is heavy, with the heat of the sun at one time or the cold of the rain at another time. One day while passing in the pick-up, I met a group of farmers walking to the farm, so I stopped and gave them a lift. I listened to their chatting and joking cheerfully,that amused me and made me smile.
I think rainy season is a celebration for farmers. Their joyful hope rises even when the sky just shows signs of the coming of the rain. The first rain will make their heart feel relieved. The regular continuous rain will make them smile all the time and make them do farming work enthusiastically. The celebration will reach its climax at the time of harvest and of a joyful thanksgiving for the goodness of God to them. Through the joyful sacrifice of working in the farm every day, God provides sustainable nourishment for their families.
At the end of his life Jesus called his disciples to celebrate a thanksgiving, the Eucharist, as the climax of his ministry in the world (1st Cor 11:23-26). It is the climax of the goodness of God to the world. But he asked also to celebrate the Eucharist as a “memory” of him (1st Cor 11:25). As the farmers regularly celebrate their work in cultivating the farm for a sustainable nourishment to their family, Jesus calls us to celebrate the Eucharist regularly (‘as often as possible’ ) for a sustainable nourishment of our Christian life.
This Sunday, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. It is to commemorate the thanksgiving sacrifice of Jesus for our salvation, so that we may experience the joyful life offered by the Father in our daily life. The life of farmers is a reminder for us that our life, too, should be a continuous celebration, with the Eucharist as the source and peak of our daily activities.
Most of our daily activities are work, fulfilling our duties and responsibilities. Not that all things are easy and without problems and challenges. But knowing that this is the way to provide sustainable nourishment for our life, we can do everything with joyful heart. Moreover, knowing that Jesus understood how we even need special nourishment from Him (Luke 9:11b-17), and he has provides his own Body and Blood as sustainable nourishment for everlasting joy, there is no other appropriate attitude, but gratitude to the Eucharist.
Jesus, thank you for your Body and Blood, for your vision and mission, for life given to us! Thank you for the Church, present everywhere to minister to the faithful who receive the spiritual nourishment of your Body and Blood. But many people, in many places, are still hungry to know about and to receive your precious gift. We pray that the missionary Church may reach them with your Gospel of Joy, and so fulfill their hunger with the sustainable nourishment of eternal joy, your life, your Body and Blood. Amen.
THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST SUNDAY
There is an Non-Government Organization (NGO) working for sustainable nourishment and agricultural promotion in my area. They support and guide the farmers to do their farming well. How effectively does it work, I do not really know. What I know is, at this time when rainy season just starts in Sierra Leone, people of Mongo Bendugu, most farmers, are very busy everyday in the farm. Even long before the rain comes down, they have prepared their farm by cutting the trees, brushing the and clearing the place. They go to the farm with almost all the family members, even children and babies, from the morning to the evening. Most of them even cook in the farm, they go back home only to rest and sleep.
They work together as an extended family, or as a group called in Koranko “kankele”. If I look at their solidarity and togetherness, I feel how they really enjoy their work. Of course the work is heavy, with the heat of the sun at one time or the cold of the rain at another time. One day while passing in the pick-up, I met a group of farmers walking to the farm, so I stopped and gave them a lift. I listened to their chatting and joking cheerfully,that amused me and made me smile.
I think rainy season is a celebration for farmers. Their joyful hope rises even when the sky just shows signs of the coming of the rain. The first rain will make their heart feel relieved. The regular continuous rain will make them smile all the time and make them do farming work enthusiastically. The celebration will reach its climax at the time of harvest and of a joyful thanksgiving for the goodness of God to them. Through the joyful sacrifice of working in the farm every day, God provides sustainable nourishment for their families.
At the end of his life Jesus called his disciples to celebrate a thanksgiving, the Eucharist, as the climax of his ministry in the world (1st Cor 11:23-26). It is the climax of the goodness of God to the world. But he asked also to celebrate the Eucharist as a “memory” of him (1st Cor 11:25). As the farmers regularly celebrate their work in cultivating the farm for a sustainable nourishment to their family, Jesus calls us to celebrate the Eucharist regularly (‘as often as possible’ ) for a sustainable nourishment of our Christian life.
This Sunday, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. It is to commemorate the thanksgiving sacrifice of Jesus for our salvation, so that we may experience the joyful life offered by the Father in our daily life. The life of farmers is a reminder for us that our life, too, should be a continuous celebration, with the Eucharist as the source and peak of our daily activities.
Most of our daily activities are work, fulfilling our duties and responsibilities. Not that all things are easy and without problems and challenges. But knowing that this is the way to provide sustainable nourishment for our life, we can do everything with joyful heart. Moreover, knowing that Jesus understood how we even need special nourishment from Him (Luke 9:11b-17), and he has provides his own Body and Blood as sustainable nourishment for everlasting joy, there is no other appropriate attitude, but gratitude to the Eucharist.
Jesus, thank you for your Body and Blood, for your vision and mission, for life given to us! Thank you for the Church, present everywhere to minister to the faithful who receive the spiritual nourishment of your Body and Blood. But many people, in many places, are still hungry to know about and to receive your precious gift. We pray that the missionary Church may reach them with your Gospel of Joy, and so fulfill their hunger with the sustainable nourishment of eternal joy, your life, your Body and Blood. Amen.