Br. Kornelius Glossanto sx
Body and Blood Of Christ Reflection
Sunday, June 14th, 2020
This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. I recall that in my country, Indonesia, this is the time for children to receive their First Communion. In some provinces they also celebrate the First Communion as solemnly as a birthday party. The children who receive their First Communion will dress in white clothes and their family, relatives and friends will come to visit them and bring gifts for them. All families will come together and bring joy for all. Every time we share in the Eucharist, we receive the Body of Christ. Maybe for some people this practice is just a normal, ‘ordinary act’ . For people receiving communion, this is part of being a normal Catholic. But if we take time to think and reflect about this ‘practice,’ we shall realize that receiving the blessed host in the mass is something very meaningful and very special. This is something essential of what we believe as Catholic people. This is what the Church calls a source and peak of our faith. In the first reading we hear how God sends to the people of Israel manna as their food. God wants the people of Israel to be humble before Him. Because all the good things of life come from God himself. “The LORD was teaching you that people need more than food to live -- they need every word that the LORD has spoken.” (Deu. 8:3) And in the Gospel, we hear how Jesus gives his body and blood as food and drink. The Son of God has given himself to us so that all of us may have eternal life. This is a priceless gift. But often we forget about it. We ask many things of God but we forget that he is already within us. Jesus is the bread of life. And as food and drink, he wants to remain with us in our lives. All we need is to be aware of such a gift so that our lives may become meaningful and joyful. Finally, let us not forget the moment when we received the holy communion for the first time and all the happiness that came with it. And everytime we attend the mass and receive the body of Christ, we must be aware that God is reallyalways with us. He is the one who brings life to us. So now in our turn we should bring all people around us to life. We can start from our family, our community, and finally we will bring the life of God to all. May God bless us.
Body and Blood Of Christ Reflection
Sunday, June 14th, 2020
This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. I recall that in my country, Indonesia, this is the time for children to receive their First Communion. In some provinces they also celebrate the First Communion as solemnly as a birthday party. The children who receive their First Communion will dress in white clothes and their family, relatives and friends will come to visit them and bring gifts for them. All families will come together and bring joy for all. Every time we share in the Eucharist, we receive the Body of Christ. Maybe for some people this practice is just a normal, ‘ordinary act’ . For people receiving communion, this is part of being a normal Catholic. But if we take time to think and reflect about this ‘practice,’ we shall realize that receiving the blessed host in the mass is something very meaningful and very special. This is something essential of what we believe as Catholic people. This is what the Church calls a source and peak of our faith. In the first reading we hear how God sends to the people of Israel manna as their food. God wants the people of Israel to be humble before Him. Because all the good things of life come from God himself. “The LORD was teaching you that people need more than food to live -- they need every word that the LORD has spoken.” (Deu. 8:3) And in the Gospel, we hear how Jesus gives his body and blood as food and drink. The Son of God has given himself to us so that all of us may have eternal life. This is a priceless gift. But often we forget about it. We ask many things of God but we forget that he is already within us. Jesus is the bread of life. And as food and drink, he wants to remain with us in our lives. All we need is to be aware of such a gift so that our lives may become meaningful and joyful. Finally, let us not forget the moment when we received the holy communion for the first time and all the happiness that came with it. And everytime we attend the mass and receive the body of Christ, we must be aware that God is reallyalways with us. He is the one who brings life to us. So now in our turn we should bring all people around us to life. We can start from our family, our community, and finally we will bring the life of God to all. May God bless us.