Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ - Year A
June 18, 2017
Gospel: Jn 6:51-58
Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: "I am
the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread
that I will give is my flesh for
the life of the world."
The Jews quarreled (1) among themselves, saying, "How can
this man give us his flesh to eat?" Jesus said to
them, "Amen,
amen, I say to you, unless you
eat the flesh of the Son of Man (2) and drink his blood, you do not
have life within you. Whoever eats
my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal
life, and I will
raise him on the last day. For my flesh
is true food, and my blood
is true drink. Whoever eats
my flesh and drinks my blood remains (3) in me and I
in him. Just as the
living Father sent me and I have
life because of the Father, so also the
one who feeds on me will have
life because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your
ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats
this bread will live forever."
http://www.usccb.org
The difficult words
(1)To quarrel means to argue.
(2)The Son of Man is another
name for the Messiah, Jesus.
(3)To remain means to stay.
This week’s spotlight
The Blessed Sacrament
We call the Eucharist "the Blessed
Sacrament" because it is the real presence of Jesus among us under the
appearance of bread and wine. Today's feast celebrates the gift of this
sacrament, the Body and Blood of Christ. We believe that the Blessed Sacrament is not an object or a thing, but a
person. Jesus is truly there, even if we cannot see him in human form. Through
the Eucharist, Jesus continues to give us his life and love.
The Consecration
The consecration of the Mass is the special moment
during the Eucharistic Prayer when the Priest prays the words of Jesus at the
Last Supper. During the consecration, the Priest lifts up, in turn, both the
host and chalice. This gesture is to show God's people that the bread and wine
have been changed into Christ’s Body and Blood.
Reflection
I’m hungry
One of my friends, a Bishop, says a lovely prayer of
blessing before meals. He says: "Lord, give bread to those who are hungry
and hunger to those who have bread.” Having a plate full of food to eat is not
enough! When our stomachs are full, we hunger for something else - for
happiness, for love, for God. Look at Jesus in the Gospel. He has just finished
feeding the crowd with bread and fish. Still, he knows that the people are
hungering for something more. So, Jesus tells them that he is the bread that
will satisfy that deep hunger of the heart. Yes, Jesus is the true food from
heaven that strengthens us to love, and to live together in peace. The Body and
Blood of Christ, which we receive in Holy Communion, is this food of eternal
life. On this feast of Corpus Christi, let’s pray from our hearts:“Lord, give
us hunger for you.”
Discussion questions
1.What does Jesus tell his followers about bread from heaven?
2.What will happen to those who eat the bread from heaven?
3.What does Jesus say about his flesh and blood?
After
receiving Holy Communion,
you can say this prayer silently to yourself. If you
have not yet
received your First Communion, you can still say this prayer because of your desire to
receive Jesus.
Father, through Jesus, in
communion with the whole Church, I thank you for coming into my heart. I am filled with joy and wonder on this feast of
your Son’s Body and Blood! May this Eucharist increase my faith, hope, and
love.
This week…
Work up an appetite
for Jesus
This week, say this short prayer before meals with
your family (or to yourself if you're alone): "Lord, give bread to those
who are hungry, and hunger to those who have bread. Lord, give us hunger for
you."
Love as Jesus does
Each day of this week, try to radiate the joy and
peace of the Blessed Sacrament. Be attentive to the people you meet, and try to
show them your joy and peace in just the right way. It doesn't have to be
complicated! It can be as simple as a smile, a wave, or listening attentively
to what others are saying.
Puzzle
Source: usccb.org
- Magnifikid - sermons4kids.com – rclblectionary.com
–usccb.org/bible/readings-audio.cfm