CORPUS CHRISTI (B)
2nd/3rd June 2018


Dear Parishioner

The last two precious gifts given to us by Jesus are the Holy Eucharist as our spiritual food on Holy Thursday and Jesus' mother Mary as our spiritual mother on Good Friday. Corpus Christi is the celebration of the abiding presence of a loving God as Emmanuel - God with us - in order to give collective thanks to our Lord for his living with us in the Eucharist. The feast also gives us an occasion to learn more about the importance and value of the "Real Presence" so that we may appreciate the Sacrament better and receive maximum benefit from the Eucharist.

This year's readings for the Feast of the BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST emphasize the theme of Covenant blood because the ancient peoples sealed Covenants with the blood of ritually sacrificed animals, and Jesus sealed his New Covenant with his own Blood shed on Calvary.

Today's first reading describes how Moses, by sprinkling the blood of a sacrificed animal on the altar and on the people, accepted the Covenant Yahweh proposed and made with His People.

In the second reading, St. Paul affirms that Jesus sealed the New Covenant with his own Blood, thereby putting an end to animal sacrifices.

Today's Gospel details how Jesus converted this ancient ritual into a Sacrament and sacrifice. Instead of the lamb's blood, Jesus offered his own Divine/human Body and Blood, and instead of sprinkling us with blood, Jesus put it into our hands as food and drink: "Take … eat … this IS my Body which will be given up for you" (He did not say "This represents my body"), and "Take … drink … This is … my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal Covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many …." (nor did He say, "This represents my blood…").

Fr Sabu Pariyadan RCJ

SEND, O LORD: HOLY APOSTLES INTO YOUR CHURCH


Notices:

Please remember to pray for:

Daily for the sick clergy of our Diocese

The sick and housebound

Those who have recently died: Paul Newman

Years Mind:
Sunday: Emile Saad, Fr Jerome Deady
Friday: Fr Edmund Tyler
Sunday: Fr Gerard Butcher


Next Sunday - TENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR B