HOMILY REFLECTION SOLEMNITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI.
LET US BE EUCHARISTIC SOULS! SOULS IN LOVE WITH JESUS IN THE HOLY EUCHARIST!
Re-edited June 12, 2022. Original version June 14, 2017
After a week’s preparation, during which we have uploaded numerous posts on love for Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, we have finally arrived at the big day of the Solemnity of “Corpus Christi.”
Last Thursday, there was a solemn procession here in Seville, Spain (as well in other cities) during which the ostensory of the Seville Cathedral was used every year. It was made by Juan de Arfe during the 16th century and weighs 300kg of silver. It is one of the most beautiful ostensories in Spain together with that of the Cathedral of Toledo.
Upon seeing the splendor and richness of this ostensory, one cannot help but think: “SO MUCH FAITH, LOVE AND GENEROSITY TOWARDS JESUS IN THE HOLY EUCHARIST BEHIND SUCH MARVELOUS WORK OF ART!”
But then, despite this, we know that God deserves even a lot more, for nothing here on earth would be sufficient enough to thank Our Lord for His Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. We could offer Our Lord all the gold, precious stones and metals in the entire universe but all these would be of little value as compared to the infinite value of the Holy Mass and the merciful and unconditional love which Our Lord has for us on the Cross and in the Tabernacle. We have been redeemed at such a great price!
“JESUS HAS REMAINED IN THE EUCHARIST TO REMEDY OUR WEAKNESSES, OUR DOUBTS, OUR FEARS, OUR ANXIETIES; TO CURE OUR LONELINESS, OUR PERPLEXITY, OUR DISCOURAGEMENT; TO ACCOMPANY US ON OUR WAY; TO UPHOLD US IN OUR STRUGGLE. ABOVE ALL, HE IS THERE TO TEACH US TO LOVE, TO DRAW US TO HIS LOVE. ‘When you contemplate the Sacred Host exposed on the altar in the monstrance, think how great is the love, the tenderness of Christ. My way to understand it is by thinking of the love I have for you. If I could be far away, working, and at the same time at the side of each one of you, how gladly I would do it!
But Christ really can do it! HE LOVES US WITH A LOVE THAT IS INFINITELY GREATER THAN THE LOVE THAT ALL THE HEARTS OF THE WORLD COULD HOLD. AND HE HAS STAYED WITH US SO THAT WE CAN JOIN OURSELVES AT ANY TIME TO HIS MOST SACRED HUMANITY, AND SO THAT HE CAN HELP US, CONSOLE US, STRENGTHEN US, SO THAT WE MAY BE FAITHFUL (St. Josemaría, The Forge, 838. Cf. 832, 837)’ (Javier Echevarría, Pastoral Letter on the Occasion of the Year of the Eucharist, Oct. 6, 2004).”
WHAT CAN WE DO TO THANK OUR LORD? Hidden in the host, Jesus goes out today from the tabernacle to the many streets of different countries in search of and to call men and women from all walks of life. MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, OUR LORD WANTS OUR SOUL, OUR HEART, OUR ENTIRE BEING. HE THIRSTS FOR OUR CORRESPONDENCE, FOR OUR LOVE. And so, as a manifestation of our sincere thanksgiving and adoration to the Most Blessed Sacrament, we pray together with St. Ignatius: “TAKE, LORD, AND RECEIVE MY LIBERTY, MY MEMORY, MY UNDERSTANDING, AND ALL MY WILL–ALL THAT I HAVE AND POSSESS. YOU, LORD, HAVE GIVEN ALL THAT TO ME. I NOW GIVE IT BACK TO YOU, O LORD. ALL OF IT IS YOURS. DISPOSE OF IT ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL. GIVE ME LOVE OF YOURSELF ALONG WITH YOUR GRACE, FOR THAT IS ENOUGH FOR ME.”
Dear friends, OUR LORD’S PRESENCE CANNOT JUST BE LIMITED IN ONE DAY. Rather, it should remind us that He always awaits us in the ordinary activities of our daily life and in the Tabernacle as well. LET US BE EUCHARISTIC SOULS! SOULS ENAMOURED WITH JESUS IN THE HOLY EUCHARIST, ALWAYS DISPOSED TO OVERCOME OURSELVES DAILY IN ORDER TO PLEASE AND SERVE JESUS IN ALL THE THINGS WE DO. Love leads one to convert the beloved into the THEME of his thoughts, his desires, his aspirations, his life: the center of one’s life for whom one wants to live for and spend his life till the end.
Let us then ask Our Lady and St. Joseph so that “IN INTENTIONS, MAY JESUS BE OUR AIM; IN AFFECTIONS, OUR LOVE; IN CONVERSATION, OUR THEME; IN ACTIONS, OUR MODEL (St. Josemaria, The Way, n. 271).” THAT WE MAY KNOW HOW TO LIVE OUR LIFE FOR GOD, AND THROUGH, WITH AND IN GOD, LIVE OUR LIFE FOR OTHERS SINCE THIS IS WHAT JESUS DID DURING HIS LIFE, ESPECIALLY ON THE CROSS AND IN THE TABERNACLE. “Be a eucharistic soul! If the centre around which your thoughts and hopes turn is the Tabernacle, then, my child, how abundant the fruits of your sanctity and apostolate will be! (St. Josemaria, Forge, n. 835).”
HAPPY FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI TO ALL! GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES.
Fr. Rolly Arjonillo
WATCH: BEAUTIFUL CORPUS CHRISTI PRAYER
SEE AS WELL: TODAY’S MASS PRAYERS AND READINGS. CLICK ON THIS LINK https://catholicsstrivingforholiness.org/solemnity-of-corpus-christi-or-the-body-and-blood-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-mass-prayers-and-readings/
SUGGESTED TEXT FOR PERSONAL MEDITATION:
Excerpt from St. Josemaria, “Christ is Passing By”, On the Feast of Corpus Christi, n. 156 (CAPITALS MINE).
“On this feast of Corpus Christi in cities and towns throughout the world, Christians accompany our Lord in procession. HIDDEN IN THE HOST HE MOVES THROUGH THE STREETS AND SQUARES — JUST AS DURING HIS EARTHLY LIFE — GOING TO MEET THOSE WHO WANT TO SEE HIM, MAKING HIMSELF AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT LOOKING FOR HIM. And so, once more, he comes among his own people. HOW ARE WE TO RESPOND TO THIS CALL OF HIS?
THE EXTERNAL SIGNS OF LOVE SHOULD COME FROM THE HEART AND FIND EXPRESSION IN THE TESTIMONY OF A CHRISTIAN LIFE. If we have been renewed by receiving our Lord’s body, we should show it. LET US PRAY THAT OUR THOUGHTS BE SINCERE, FULL OF PEACE, SELF-GIVING AND SERVICE. Let us pray that we be true and clear in what we say — the right thing at the right time — so as to console and help and especially bring God’s light to others. LET US PRAY THAT OUR ACTIONS BE CONSISTENT AND EFFECTIVE AND RIGHT, SO THAT THEY GIVE OFF “THE GOOD FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST,” EVOKING HIS WAY OF DOING THINGS.
The Corpus Christi procession makes Christ present in towns and cities throughout the world. BUT HIS PRESENCE CANNOT BE LIMITED TO JUST ONE DAY, A NOISE YOU HEAR AND THEN FORGET. IT SHOULD REMIND US THAT WE HAVE TO DISCOVER OUR LORD IN OUR ORDINARY EVERYDAY ACTIVITY. Side by side with this solemn procession, THERE IS THE SIMPLE, SILENT PROCESSION OF THE ORDINARY LIFE OF EACH CHRISTIAN. He is a man among men, who by good fortune has received the faith and the divine commission to act so that he renews the message of our Lord on earth. WE ARE NOT WITHOUT DEFECTS; WE MAKE MISTAKES AND COMMIT SINS. BUT GOD IS WITH US AND WE MUST MAKE OURSELVES READY TO BE USED BY HIM, SO THAT HE CAN CONTINUE TO WALK AMONG MEN.
LET US ASK OUR LORD THEN TO MAKE US SOULS DEVOTED TO THE BLESSED EUCHARIST, SO THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM BRINGS FORTH JOY AND SERENITY AND A DESIRE FOR JUSTICE. IN THIS WAY WE WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR OTHERS TO RECOGNIZE CHRIST; WE WILL PUT CHRIST AT THE CENTRE OF ALL HUMAN ACTIVITIES. And Jesus’ promise will be fulfilled: “I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.”
SOLEMNITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI in https://catholicsstrivingforholiness.org/practical-tips-in-preparation-for-the-solemnity-of-corpus-christi-av-summary-and-full-text/
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Thanks and God bless you and your loved ones! Fr. Rolly Arjonillo.
