THE SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (B)

Take it; this is my body. This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.

Mk 14:12-16, 22-26

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POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION

1. Setting

• Last Supper
• The day the Passover Lamb was sacrificed. And Jesus IS the Lamb of God.
• Jesus did NOT say, "This is the symbol of my body. This is the symbol of my blood."
• The separate consecration of bread and wine alludes to the death of Christ on the cross. 
• The blood Jesus will shed on the cross will bring about a NEW Covenant, supplanting the Old Covenant sealed with the blood of an animal on Mt. Sinai.
• The blood of Jesus is poured out for the many. This is an Aramaic way of saying "for all". Hence, the death of Jesus is for the salvation of all, reaching everybody through space and time.

2. Feast

• The institution of the Eucharist is on Maundy Thursday. Why are we having a duplicate feast? St. Juliana of Belgium had a vision. She saw the liturgical year of the Church as if it were a full moon. But there was a small dark spot which represented the lack of any feast dedicated to the Eucharist. She communicated this vision to Church authorities which ultimately led to the institution of the the Feast of Corpus Christi (of the Body of Christ). 
• The feast is on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. In the Philippines, the feast is celebrated on the following Sunday so that more can celebrate the feast.
• The feast is usually celebrated with the procession of the Blessed Sacrament.

3. Doctrine

• Jesus Christ is truly present (hence, Real Presence) in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is not a mere symbol of the presence of Jesus Christ. 
• Although we say Jesus is truly present IN the Eucharist, it doesn't mean that Jesus Christ is to be found INSIDE the communion host. What we receive is Jesus Christ taking on the appearance of a communion host.
• When we receive communion in the species of bread, it is not only the body of Christ that we receive. It is the whole Christ that we receive. That same is true of the species of wine. It is the whole Christ who is received and not only his blood.

4. Pope Francis and the Eucharist

• Communion is not PRIMARILY nor EXCLUSIVELY for good people. It is for those who want to be good but find it difficult to do so. Kaya kung gusto mong bumaet, pero di mo magawa, ano ang iyong magagawa? Mandalas kang tumanggap ng komunion at iyo tiyak na magagawa (ang pagpapakabaet).