On the Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
A few words of encouragement on Corpus Christi
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“I have earnestly desired…” (Lk 22:15) Jesus earnestly desires that we partake his paschal banquet as a memorial of his sacrifice and love, and a token of his living with his disciples.
As we struggled through the pandemic in the past few years, our desire for Jesus only increased. And we said, “Lord, I have earnestly desired to have this meal with you…. Although we have yearned for it, we could not get close to you during the pandemic. How lonely and painful it was…”
While things have returned to normal, this ‘desire’ has since been rooted deeply in our hearts, and we always long to be close to the Lord. ‘The Supper of the Lord’ is not only our obligation to keep the Lord’s Day, but also an indispensable part of our lives. The martyrs of Abitina (Tunisia) said likewise, “We cannot live without the Lord’s Supper… because I am a Christian” (Dies Domini 46). And so, this affective yearning “the Lord is in me, I am in the Lord” and “I shall live for the Lord” sustains our life journey until we meet the Lord face to face.
Brothers and sisters, in case you have not yet returned to the Lord’s table, please do not wait any longer. We long to have you with us sooner. Just come back. The mystical body of Christ looks forward to your return to enrich it and increase its plurality and vitality.
Brothers and sisters who return to the Lord’s table, please cherish this ‘intimacy’! Learn to taste with your mouth, listen with your heart, get close with your heart, live from your heart, and then respond with actions.
“I have earnestly desired”… Our desires are well met by your good service. Thank you for your service at the Table of the Eucharist… Thanks for your reception, arrangement, preparation before and after the Eucharist, cleaning, live streaming, projection, proclamation of the Word, distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ, singing, assisting with the Liturgy, and presiding over liturgical prayers, …. May your labour be pleasing to the Lord and bear fruit in abundance.
“I have earnestly desired” …The Lord desires us to be united in his Body and Blood, to become one body, to be his beloved, and to be powerful testimonies to his unity and communion. In the Lord, may we edify each other and pray for each other.
