The Bread of Life

June 22: Feast of Corpus Christi: the Body and Blood of Christ

Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16; Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20; 1Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6:51-58

instead of the Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A:

Jeremiah 20: 10-13; Psalm 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35; Romans 5:12-15; Matthew 10:26-33

A thought for those who want to reveal the risen Jesus in their lifestyle.

“My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.” John 6:255

Shouldn’t it “raise irresistible questions”—or raise eyebrows, at least—when non-Christians see Catholics genuflecting before the tabernacle and coming forward to receive a piece of bread at Mass as if it were the most precious object on earth?

One convert became Catholic after seeing his next-door neighbor, an old lady, coming out early every morning to walk to Mass. The clincher came when he saw her actually crawling up a hill through snow on her hands and knees to get there! “Witness” begins when our life stops making sense without the Gospel.

Franz Werfel said about Lourdes in The Song of Bernadette, “For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe, no explanation is possible.”

Reversing the question, what explanation is possible when those who do believe do not bother to come to Mass on Sunday and receive the Bread of Life? Or even daily, if their schedule allows it?

Do they really believe that all who eat this bread “remain in me and I in them?” Have life because of me?” Will “live forever”? It isn’t evident.

What of priests who routinely deny Communion to good people because they “appear” to be in “mortal sin”? Jesus said, “Feed my sheep!” Are they doing that? With love?

PRAY: Google “Anima Christi” and pray it.

PRACTICE: Never miss a chance to participate in Eucharist and receive Communion.