Opening Prayer Series: Corpus Christi Year A (Feast of Body and Blood of Christ)

The Opening Prayer for the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) Year A reads as follows:

Let us pray

(to the Lord who gives Himself in the Eucharist 

that this sacrament may bring us salvation and peace)

Lord Jesus Christ,

You gave us the Eucharist as the memorial of Your suffering and death.

May our worship of this sacrament of Your Body and Blood

help to to experience the salvation You won for us 

and the peace of the kingdom 

where You live with the Father and the Holy Spirit 

one God, for ever and ever.

In making this prayer tangible the following reflection questions emerged.

1. What is our belief towards the Eucharist- do we truly believe in the real presence of Christ?
2. Why is the Eucharist a memorial of Christ's suffering and death?
3. How does Jesus in the Eucharist bring us salvation and peace?
4. How might we strengthen our belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist this coming week?
5. Why was this Solemnity instituted and what difference does it make in my life?
6. How can I make present in my world the love of Christ shown to me in the Eucharist this coming week?

The teaching of the real presence of  Jesus in the Eucharist is just as difficult to teach and learn as it was for the Jews and the disciples to understand and comprehend.  Jesus tells us that my flesh is real food and my blood real drink.  He tells us also by feeding on Him, we will draw life from Him. 

Receiving Jesus in the Eucharist is not an optional extra in our faith.  Our souls need nourishment just as bodies need food to live.  If we receive Jesus occasionally,  we are starving our souls from vital life blood that it needs.  If we receive Jesus in the Eucharist regularly but casually, we are not giving Jesus full respect, nor are we gaining the full graces which He wants to give us.  We must always receive Jesus longingly and lovingly. We want Him to take up residence in our souls. We must want to receive healing for our souls and bodies. We must receive Holy Communion with love.

My parish is celebrating with exposition during the afternoon and having Solemn Vespers in the evening before the Blessed Sacrament. I hope that you will be able to spend some extra time with Jesus to reflect on this wonderful gift of Himself to each of us personally.  

On this Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, let us take this opportunity to reflect on the place of the Eucharist in our lives and how we approach Jesus in this sacrament.  Let us make Jesus a commitment to receive Him as worthily as we can and to receive Him frequently with love and longing hearts.