A
Personal Reflection on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of the
Lord
1.
The
solemnity of Corpus Christi reminds us that the Eucharist is the summit of Christian
life. It is the culmination of our religious experience and practice as
revealed by the historical experience of the Church. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus, felt
that their hearts were burning while discussing with Him the events in
Jerusalem and How the Lord, yet unrecognized by them, expounded to them the
scriptures and how it should be fulfilled by the Son of Man. The acts of the breaking of the bread finally
opened their eyes. Applying these
thoughts to contemporary issues, it can be observed that our liturgy, the Mass, is arranged in
such a way that the Word precedes the liturgy of the Eucharist, the
proclamation of the Word instructs but
it is only in the Eucharist that Christ gives himself to us Body, Blood, Soul
and Divinity. Christ told the
unbelieving Jews that unless they eat of this bread and drink of His Blood,
they have no life in them.
2.
The
Church has grown steadily in the appreciation of this great mystery. The richness of her rites and liturgies has
demonstrated the love and adoration for the Eucharist. There is however, an erroneous belief or
perception which says that the bread of the Eucharist is supposed to be eaten
and not to be looked at. This erroneous
belief led some to minimize if not neglect the adoration and exposition of the
consecrated Host. I would suppose that
this erroneous belief is protestant in origin but sadly for a time it has had
its influence on some segment of the Church especially after the confusion that
ensued after the Second Vatican Council when the liberals had their free ride
in the reforms being undertaken as if to legitimize their erroneous
beliefs. Akin to this erroneous belief
is the practice of relegating the Blessed Sacrament on the side or hidden
corner of the Church away from the altar.
As they said it was a confusion to put together in one place the
repository of the Host and the place where the act of transubstantiation
happens. But I would opine that it is
more confusing to place the Blessed Sacrament on the corner of the altar in
full view of the faithful while the Mass is being held at the altar. But I am glad that today in renovations and
in many churches where the Blessed Sacrament is displayed; they have brought
back the Blessed Sacrament at the center of the altar. In some churches, I have observed that they
have a place where they put the Bible on one side and the Blessed Sacrament on
the other side. I would think that it is
illogical to create a repository for the Bible side by side with the blessed
Sacrament because it creates confusion.
The Real Presence is a true presence of the whole person of Christ,
while the presence of Christ in the proclamation of His word is not as the same
as the Real Presence. In the proclamation
of the Word Christ is present because he is the origin of the Word, He is the
logos. It demonstrates His
omnipresence. But the Eucharist is
indeed a Real Presence because it is Christ Himself offered as a sacrifice of
Calvary but in unbloody manner.
3.
I
refuse to take the idea that; the Bread is to be eaten and not to be looked
at. The practice of exposition of the
Sacred Species for adoration is not an aberration, but rather the practice of
doing so is the product of the long collective experience of the Church and her
growing appreciation and love for the Holy Eucharist. It is also an appreciation for the Most Holy
Sacrament that produced such intimacy between the Lord and His Bride-the
church. This practice became popular
during the time of St. Thomas Aquinas.
The angelic doctor has composed numerous prayers and hymns on the
adoration of the Eucharist. This
practice also arose as the church’s affirmation of the real presence which at
that time was being challenged by the heretics.
4.
Imitating
the two disciples at Emmaus, let us open our eyes that Christ may fill us with
faith to believe and accept. Amen.
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