On the day of Corpus Christi, traditionally a solemn Eucharistic procession would take place through the streets of towns and villages. Priests and the faithful would participate in a jubilant manner, in order to receive the Eucharistic Lord in their streets and lives. Both St. Paul and St. John give as the background, the early church’s celebration of the Eucharist in the context of a meal. In the early church, on the day of the Lord, the faithful started their communion with the agape meal and ending the meal with the eucharistic celebration.

Paul quotes a traditional Eucharistic formula, indicated by the Jewish expression “the cup of blessing.” The cup of blessing and the bread are participation in the body and blood of Christ. Koinonia, the Greek word for participation is not merely symbolic but strongly realistic. John deliberately uses the Greek words ‘sarks’ meaning flesh and ‘aima’ meaning blood. Note the profound meaning of the phrases, ‘eat my flesh’ and ‘drink my blood.’

The whole discourse outlines the events of salvation history, the coming of the Christ as the bread from heaven into the world in the Incarnation, the surrender of himself in his death and the availability of his surrendered life as the nourishment of the faithful in Holy Communion.

By eating his body, we become the body of Christ, the Church. By drinking his blood, we become one with God. Holy God gives himself to us in the Eucharist; we in turn partake of the Eucharist and become holy.

In the liturgy of the Mass, words of John the Baptist are used: “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.” In response we say the words of the Roman centurion: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

Before saying ‘Behold the lamb of God,’ the priest breaks the bread. The meaning is this. Jesus’ body was crushed and his blood shed. The early church celebrated this as ‘Breaking of Bread.’ The disciples through the centuries died for Christ by shedding their blood. As we receive the communion, we proclaim in our hearts that we too are ready to be broken for Christ and the world. 

The Eucharist makes the past present for participation (“flesh” and “blood” referring back to Christ’s death), and it makes the future (“I will raise them up at the last day”; and continues in the present (“has eternal life”).

As we participate in the Eucharist today, let us reconfirm our faith and conviction, that fed by the heavenly food, inspired by Jesus’ sacrifice and strengthened by the real presence, we will continue to lead a life of communion with God, the Church and the peoples of the world. May God bless us and our world!