HOMILY FOR SUNDAY: THE SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

Readings: Ex 24:3-8; Heb9:11-15; Mk14:12-16,22-26

The covenant that lasts forever

It is Sunday, the great solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. Today we celebrate the true presence of our Lord in the Eucharist. By the consecration words that a priest says at mass bread and wine are turned into the real presence of Jesus Christ. We celebrate the faithfulness of God expressed in the covenant that Christ made with his disciples to remain with us forever. We glory and rejoice in the everlasting covenant between God and man.

Instituted on Holy Thursday, the day Christ had his Passover meal with his disciples, the Eucharist has from then on through the years remained the source of life and real presence of Christ in the church.

The gospel today gives a description of how Christ instituted the Eucharist thereby making a covenant with the human race that he will remain with them forever. In this covenant we see God’s faithfulness to be a father to all who believe, a promise he to Abraham from of old. We also see that he is always with us, not leaving us as orphans.

We are able to experience through the sacrifice of mass where by the words of a priest bread is turned into real body and wine into real blood of Christ. The second reading affirms that Christ is the lamb by whose blood this covenant is sealed. He is the victim that stands in comparison to the lambs or bulls that were offered in the old testament, sacrifices that never attained for the people full purification.  Rather Christ is the one whose blood purifies all and so enables them to be one with the father in this covenant.

The first reading is a passage within a larger section where different rites are given to the people. Rites that show the identity of the people of God and also their submission to him. This is confirmed in the covenant where Moses sprinkles the victim’s blood on the people. This covenant was broken by the people as we read in chapter 32 of Exodus. It never lasted unlike the one sealed by the blood of Christ.

Today therefore is a great day when God choses to be with us forever. All is asked of us is to have faith and follow his commands.

What a privilege for us that God is with us forever.

Have a great celebration.