Sunday, June 6, 2010

Corpus Christi

We celebrate this feast today in the Church and the gospel reading is that of the feeding of the 5,000 with the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. I read it at least ten times as I circulated through the nursing home this morning. Each time I pondered the immensity of the meaning of this reading; how it so perfectly prefigured the gift of the Eucharist, I was blown away by God's generosity to His beloved people. He told the apostles to go and feed the people themselves, knowing full well that it would be later that indeed, He would give them the power to change the bread and wine into His Body and Blood so that believers could be fed with the Eucharist until the end of time. And this perfect gift would be the source of their spiritual life on earth, uniting them so perfectly with He Himself as completely as possible outside of heaven. The gospel became a teaching moment today as one of the residents asked me questions about the Eucharist and how it actually came about in the time of Christ. The Holy Spirit used my mouth to proclaim His teachings and I felt that this man had a better understanding of this insurmountable gift because of the time spent with him today. Thank you, Jesus for using me in this ministry.