Posted by The WORD in other words (2017) by Father Gil Alejandria SVD – Catholic Trade Manila SVD
Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) – A
The International Eucharistic Congress held in Cebu in January 2016 was a remarkable gathering, well attended by Filipinos and delegates from other countries. Big crowds were present at the various events of the congress. One of the awe-inspiring images was the evening procession — a river of lights stretching for miles. It was a powerful display of faith and of appreciation for the Eucharist.
The feast of Corpus Christi again reminds us of the meaning and importance of the Eucharist in our lives. The Eucharist is truly the food that matters most. We may go hungry when we lack food for the body, and the worst that can happen is sickness or death. But if we truly understand what we are destined for, it is to seek the food that nourishes us for eternal life. Jesus Himself declared: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever” (John 6:51).
A true believer always seeks this spiritual food above all else. We priests are inspired by parishioners who make a habit of attending daily Mass and receiving the Lord in Holy Communion. They realize the importance of the Eucharist in their lives.
Once I was saddened to hear a parishioner report that there was no daily Mass in their parish — only Sunday and special celebrations. Perhaps the priest had valid reasons, but such incidents remind us of the saying: “When we fail to give the people the spiritual food they long for, they may die from spiritual hunger.”
The Eucharist is not optional nourishment; it is the very heart of Christian life. As St. Paul reminds us: “Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16).
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