Fr. Christophe Ndiwe Chiza sx
REFLECTION ON THE READINGS OF THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST ( CORPUS CHRISTI ) YEAR C 2025
“ The mystery of the Eucharist is the center of the Sacred liturgy and indeed of the whole Christian life”. My dear’s beloved in Christ, today’s solemnity presents us twofold of our Christian life and faith. The Body and Blood of Christ as sacramental presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today’s Solemnity sends us back to the Lord’s Supper which was not an ordinary or common meal but a solemn ordinance of the Lord. Indeed, the Lord’s Supper is the memorial of the Love with which He loved us to the end.
Melchizedek brought out bread and wine
The First reading presents us Melchizedek as high priest who brought and consecrated the Bread and the wine. Melchizedek means king of righteousness and Salem is the short of Jerusalem which means Peace. As High Priest, Melchizedek is the symbol of Christ, the true King of righteousness and peace, our Great high Priest. ( Heb. 7 :3) Every Priest is a priest after the order of Melchizedek ( Ps 110, 4). Therefore, it is only a priest who can celebrate the mystery of the Eucharist where bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ. This is not a privilege but a service which must be done with much respect and righteousness.
For as often as you eat and drink, you proclaim the death of the Lord.
The second reading of today celebration echoes on the event of the Lord’s Supper. This reading is an answer to the question of how frequently the Lord’s Supper should be observed ? For as often as you eat …and drink. There is no legalistic rule which is laid down , neither any fixed date given. “ He took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “ this is my body that is for you”. After taking the bread Jesus gave thanks to God. It means that we must always praise and glorify God. Our lives must become a song of thanksgiving to God and a canticle of praise.
They all ate and were satisfied
The miracle operates by Jesus in this Gospel reading is a visible sign and manifestation of divine providence. Jesus satisfies the hunger of the crowd and casts down the worry of the disciples. The people forget to eat in order to stay with Jesus. This is something very important and interesting “ Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions”. The disciples want to send away the crowd. And why should the disciples go off on tours to minister to people, and neglect those who were at their own doorstep ? The attitude of the disciples reveres how many times we too show much concern about our brothers and sisters who are living far away from us and neglect those who are on our doorstep. We are living in a virtual World where the far away seems to be more attractive than what can see, hear and touch. Let us not send away those who are near us and who really need our assistance or help. Before doing charity to those who are far from us, let us first look at those who are near us.
“ Give them some food yourselves. “ They replied, “ Five loaves and two fish are all we have.” The lesson is this, if we give to Jesus what we have, He can multiply it to feed the hungry. We are called to offer to God what we have and what we are. The five thousand represent the lost humanity, starving for the bread of God. Indeed, the world is starving for the love of neighbor and the presence of God. As Christians, we are called to take care of the concrete needs of the neighbor. Jesus is truly the bread of life that gives courage and leads Christians to face the problems of the crowd in a new way, not from outside , but from among the crowd. May the Body and Blood of Christ become our daily and spiritual food in our earthly journey and Christian life.
Fr. Christophe Ndiwe Chiza sx
REFLECTION ON THE READINGS OF THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST ( CORPUS CHRISTI ) YEAR C 2025
“ The mystery of the Eucharist is the center of the Sacred liturgy and indeed of the whole Christian life”. My dear’s beloved in Christ, today’s solemnity presents us twofold of our Christian life and faith. The Body and Blood of Christ as sacramental presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today’s Solemnity sends us back to the Lord’s Supper which was not an ordinary or common meal but a solemn ordinance of the Lord. Indeed, the Lord’s Supper is the memorial of the Love with which He loved us to the end.
Melchizedek brought out bread and wine
The First reading presents us Melchizedek as high priest who brought and consecrated the Bread and the wine. Melchizedek means king of righteousness and Salem is the short of Jerusalem which means Peace. As High Priest, Melchizedek is the symbol of Christ, the true King of righteousness and peace, our Great high Priest. ( Heb. 7 :3) Every Priest is a priest after the order of Melchizedek ( Ps 110, 4). Therefore, it is only a priest who can celebrate the mystery of the Eucharist where bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ. This is not a privilege but a service which must be done with much respect and righteousness.
For as often as you eat and drink, you proclaim the death of the Lord.
The second reading of today celebration echoes on the event of the Lord’s Supper. This reading is an answer to the question of how frequently the Lord’s Supper should be observed ? For as often as you eat …and drink. There is no legalistic rule which is laid down , neither any fixed date given. “ He took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “ this is my body that is for you”. After taking the bread Jesus gave thanks to God. It means that we must always praise and glorify God. Our lives must become a song of thanksgiving to God and a canticle of praise.
They all ate and were satisfied
The miracle operates by Jesus in this Gospel reading is a visible sign and manifestation of divine providence. Jesus satisfies the hunger of the crowd and casts down the worry of the disciples. The people forget to eat in order to stay with Jesus. This is something very important and interesting “ Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions”. The disciples want to send away the crowd. And why should the disciples go off on tours to minister to people, and neglect those who were at their own doorstep ? The attitude of the disciples reveres how many times we too show much concern about our brothers and sisters who are living far away from us and neglect those who are on our doorstep. We are living in a virtual World where the far away seems to be more attractive than what can see, hear and touch. Let us not send away those who are near us and who really need our assistance or help. Before doing charity to those who are far from us, let us first look at those who are near us.
“ Give them some food yourselves. “ They replied, “ Five loaves and two fish are all we have.” The lesson is this, if we give to Jesus what we have, He can multiply it to feed the hungry. We are called to offer to God what we have and what we are. The five thousand represent the lost humanity, starving for the bread of God. Indeed, the world is starving for the love of neighbor and the presence of God. As Christians, we are called to take care of the concrete needs of the neighbor. Jesus is truly the bread of life that gives courage and leads Christians to face the problems of the crowd in a new way, not from outside , but from among the crowd. May the Body and Blood of Christ become our daily and spiritual food in our earthly journey and Christian life.
Fr. Christophe Ndiwe Chiza sx