JESUS: THE WORD OF GOD AND EUCHARIST

 Sunday, June 11, 2023

THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST (CORPUS CHRISTI)

(Solemnity)


First reading. Deuteronomy 8: 2-3, 14-16

Psalm. 147: 12-15, 19-20 (R. 12a)

Second reading. 1 Corinthians 10: 16-17

Gospel. John 6: 51-58


TOPIC FOR REFLECTION


THE HOLY EUCHARIST IS GOD'S NEW COVENANT

My dear, before I commence with today's reflection, let me quickly wish you HAPPY CORPUS CHRISTI.

May the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ grant salvation to all.


Now, let us commence in earnest.

Two sources of sacrifices existed both in the old and new covenants. They are...

a. Blood of the animal in the Old Testament, and

b. Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament


It is good to know that though, both have blood in common, the effects of both types of blood are incomparable.


The blood of the animal which was sprinkled upon the Israelites was just to restore their external outward holiness, but still left the inner dirty.

It is like someone who showers because he discovers that he is dirty, such only makes the external body clean, but if the internal body is sick, it will still need a doctor.

The blood of Jesus which was shed on the cross of cavalry, did not just wash away the external body, but more importantly, the internal body. His blood purifies a person both in and out.

It is like someone who receives baptism, such a person is made whole, and both the external and the internal body are purified.


Therefore, in the old testament, God gave the people of Israel commandments to follow and Moses asked if they will obey them, and they all shouted, we will observe all the commandments. Therefore,  while they were in the wilderness, God humble them, testing to know what was in their heart, whether they would keep his commandments, or not. And he humbled them with hunger and fed them with manna, which they did not know, nor did their fathers know; that he might make them know that man does not live by bread alone, but that man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

Hence, Jesus is that Word which comes from the Lord and left Himself for in the Eucharist.


At a later time, Christ came into the world, and he offered himself as a ransom for many. The fact is that the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer are sprinkled on those who have incurred defilement and they restore the holiness of their outward lives; how much more effectively the blood of Christ, who offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice to God through the eternal Spirit, can purify our inner self from dead actions so that we do our service to the living God.


Remember that in the old testament, the blood of animals was used to establish a covenant between God and His people, but in recent times, Christ's blood became the covenant established between God and His people.


Meanwhile, at the last supper, as they were eating, he took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a chalice, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Thus, Jesus established the Holy Eucharist.


The Holy Eucharist is the communion of love, peace, unity, and harmony; hence, it is the summit of our faith and at the same time, the covenant between us and God.

The song says: If we eat of the Lord, and we drink of the Lord like the Lord we shall be...


The questions are:If truly we accept and consume the Holy Eucharist, and also acknowledged that it is Jesus we receive, then...


Why do we still feel empty and entertained by fear after receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist? If Jesus the Holy Eucharist we receive lives in us, then who can be against us? 1 John 4: 4

Why do we replace the Holy Eucharist as the new covenant with yeast bread and Eva wine 😆?

Why don't we act as a new covenant child, rather than going back to the old covenant with paganistic attitudes?

Why don't we imitate the Eucharistic Jesus in His words and deeds?

Why don't we want to sacrifice for others after Jesus sacrificed himself for us?

Finally, do we recognize Jesus in the Holy Eucharist? Do we value what we receive?

We could go on with uncountable questions


The summary message is that we should act, live, profess and propagate Jesus in the Holy Eucharist as the new covenant.

We should not allow the Holy Eucharist to be put to shame in our lives as an individual.


Peace ✌️ be with you.


Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DO YOU KNOW WHY AND HOW JESUS OVERCAME HIS TEMPTATION?

Image
 Sunday, February 26, 2023. FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (A) First Reading. Genesis 2: 7-9; 3: 1-7 Psalm. 51: 3-6, 12-14, and 17 (R. cf. 3a) Second Reading. Romans 5: 12- 19 Gospel. Matthew 4: 1-11 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION  YOUR DESIRE IS YOUR TEMPTATION.  Do you know why JESUS did not fall into temptation? It is because...  1. He is divine and not of the flesh; remember, only flesh is tempted and not the Spirit.  2. He came from Heaven, and not from the earth.  3. He is in the world, but not of the world.  4. All that exists on earth was created THROUGH HIM, AND WITH HIM, AND IN HIM. So, how can what he creates tempt Him the creator? 5. He came to save and to teach us how to be saved, by extension, how to overcome temptation.  I will like to quickly remind us that all temptations in life fall under 3 categories. They are...  1. PLEASURE  2. POWER  3. POSSESSION.  Jesus was tempted by these 3 categories.  They are as follows:  1. The temptation of pleasure: Turn these stones into bread. Jesus did
Read more

IF JESUS WAS BAD, CAN YOU FOLLOW HIM?

Image
 *Sunday, October 22, 2023*  29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A  *MISSION SUNDAY*  First Reading. Isaiah 45: 1, 4-6 PSALM 96: 1, 3-5, 7-10 (R. 7b) Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5 Gospel. Matthew 22: 15-21 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION  *IF JESUS WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE, WILL YOU FOLLOW HIM?*  Today is mission Sunday, and for anyone to live a fulfilled missionary life, such ought to be a responsible person. No one can survive on a mission land if he lacks good character. I hope you know that Jesus' good character attracted us to follow Him in His mission. So will anyone with good character on a mission influence or attract people to God? Good character attracts, while bad character repels. Jesus is a good man because his ways of life are good. Christianity is a good religion because it is Jesus' way of life. Therefore, Christianity is a way of life. So, since Christianity is a way of life, it teaches how to live a good responsible life filled with a high sense of responsibility.  A Chr
Read more

DO NOT BE A HYPOCRITICAL PERSON

Image
 *Friday, October 20, 2023*  Weekday (28) Ordinary Time A First Reading. Romans 4: 1-8 Psalm 32: 1-2, 5, 11 (R. see 7). Gospel. Luke 12: 1-7 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION  *TRUST GOD, BUT AVOID HYPOCRISY*  Jesus said, "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees – that is, their hypocrisy".  It simply means if you know anybody with the under-listed attributes, please in your interest and for the sake of your future, avoid them. If you can't avoid them, learn to manage them. Do not keep such persons as friends, unless you want to ruin your future. So, avoid: 1. The people who are not real, fake by nature. 2. Those who teach the wrong doctrine 3. Those who blackmail and slander people. Note: Be aware that those who gossip to you about others have already massacred you to other people before coming to you. Avoid them. 4. Those who are pretenders  5. Those who are full of eye 👀  service 6. Those who live and dine with envy and jealousy. etc. Jesus went further to say, that ev
Read more