HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST-YRC By. Fr. Dominic Yamoah

he reflection below is a homily on this Sunday by Fr. Dominic Yamoah, Pastor at Sts. Clare’s Clarinda, Sacred Heart, Bedford, and St. Joseph at Villisca. It is a product of my readings online and personal reflection. I am sharing them because they touched my life, and that of my Parishioners and I believe they will influence your life too. May God bless you

Dear people of God, I believe the most precious gift that Jesus gave to his church is that which we celebrate today, the gift of his own body and blood in the form of bread and wine. The short reading we have today from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is very important for Bible historians. This is because the words of Jesus in this passage are the earliest recorded words of Jesus that we have. We know that the words of Jesus are recorded in the gospels and other New Testament books. Nevertheless, Paul’s letters were written some twenty to fifty years before the gospels and theses other New Testaments books were written. A better understanding of these words are important for understanding our feast today as well its practical response in our lives.

Paul begins by telling the people of Corinth that the tradition of celebrating the Lord’s Supper is one that goes back to Jesus Christ himself. “For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you” (1 Corinthians 11:23). Paul did not personally receive this tradition from the Lord, since he was not one of the twelve apostles present at the Last Supper. He received the tradition from those who were Christians before him, after his conversion to the Christian faith. Now he is handing on to the Corinthians the same tradition that he himself received. The only difference is that whereas up till the time of Paul, the tradition was passed on by word of mouth, Paul was the first to put it down in writing because he could not be there physically with the Corinthians.

…that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-25)

‘The night he was betrayed’ was the last night that Jesus spent with his disciples before his passion and death. In olden days, people did not write their wills. They spoke their wills, usually as their last words before death. What do these words of 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 tell us when we read them as the last words, the will and testament of Jesus? Three important images come to light for our reflection and application.

First, the ‘WILL’ of Jesus does not say a word about what Jesus taught, but focus rather on what Jesus did. He gave his body to his followers as food and his blood as drink. Remember, this was taking place in the context of the Passover meal. Therefore, Jesus was presenting himself as their Passover lamb. The Israelites in Egypt had to eat the flesh of the Passover lamb to identify themselves as God’s own people. They marked their doorposts with its blood as a sign to keep away the angel of death. Every Israelite was supposed to participate in this ritual every year to renew their identity as God’s people who enjoy God’s special blessings and protection. Seen in this light, the Eucharist becomes for us the place where we come to renew ourselves as God’s new people in Christ.

Secondly, the ‘WILL’ speaks of a “new covenant.” In the Old Testament, the people of God came into being through a covenant. By speaking of a new covenant, Jesus is saying that a new people of God has come into being. In the sacrifice that seals the covenant, Jesus is both the officiating priest and the lamb of sacrifice. We are just the beneficiaries of a life-giving grace. That is why the name “Eucharist” (“thanksgiving”) is so appropriate. Jesus did it all for us. All we have to do is receive it and give thanks.

Finally, the will of Jesus invites us to the banquet. “Do this in remembrance of me … Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me” (verses 24-25). Dear Friends, this is the last thing Jesus asked us to do before he died. He asked to keep doing it as often as possible until his return in glory (verse 26). Why then is it that many of us take the Eucharist so lightly? We seem to be so ready to skip attending Mass at the slightest excuse: “I just didn’t feel like going … We were on vacation … I seem to get more from the TV service.” Nevertheless, no amount of television programming can take the place of Holy Communion. The importance of this Eucharist is the reason why the church is constantly finding ways of reaching out to people who are not able to receive Holy Communion because of certain situations in their lives. Fr. Dominic Yamoah prayer today will be to ask for an increase in faith in the sacrament of his body and blood, which Christ gives us in the form of bread and wine. Let this be your prayer too.Happy weekend to you!!!

Keep Fr. Dominic Yamoah and His new Ministry in your Prayers.