The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, Why Not on Maundy Thursday?

06-02-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Tony Okolo C.S.Sp., V.F.

Beloved Parishioners,

The Church historically celebrates the institution of the Holy Eucharist on Maundy Thursday, which is the first day of Tridium, usually the peak of the Lenten period. This moment is already charged with sorrowful memories, Judas’ betrayal, the arrest and agony of Jesus, Peter’s denial, as well as the memories of our imperfections in following Christ.

Being that the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ is a great feast which should be celebrated with joy and happiness, then a day other than Maundy Thursday was necessary.

The foundation of this great event began in 1207 when a Belgian Augustinian nun, St. Juliana, Prioress of Mont Cornillon, who had turned sixteen, had a vision of a full moon with a dark spot surrounding it. This vision was interpreted by experts to mean, “the full moon symbolized the Church, the dark spot was the absence of a specific feast in honor of the Eucharistic Jesus.” Consequently, as the revelational communion continued, it gained attention in the Diocese of Liege in 1246 as the feast of Corpus Christi. Interestingly, in the reforms of Vatican II, Corpus Christi was joined with the feast of the Precious Blood, normally on July 1, to become the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of the Lord.

IN PROCESSION, WE PROFESS OUR FAITH

The Council of Trent informs that, we must honor Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist publicly so that those who observed the Faith of Catholics in the Most Holy Eucharist might be attracted to the Eucharistic Lord and believe in the Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, present in this great Sacrament. Accordingly, Catholic Church teaches that in the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of the God-man are really, truly, substantially, and abidingly present together with his soul and divinity by reason of the Transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. Accordingly, St. Cyril of Jerusalem convincingly asserts, “Since Christ himself has said, ‘This is my Body’, who shall dare to doubt that it is his Body?” Jesus always assures us that He will not leave us as orphans. We are comforted with such faithful assurance “I will be with you till the end of the time.” In this understanding, we joyfully profess our faith in procession with the Blessed Sacrament, holding and re-affirming the real presence of Jesus in our lives, in the Church and in the world at large.

UNIVERSAL CONTRADICTION, THE FOOD OF OUR SPIRIT

Conventional bread serves as a very good source of carbohydrate to the body which is very important for survival. Jesus categorical says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven, the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my life.” In this expression, Jesus offers Himself to everyone who accepts Him as the bread of life. But the Jews disputed among themselves saying, “how can this man give us his flesh to eat”. To this Jesus emphasizes even more “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” Based on this hard saying many, including some of the disciples of Jesus, stopped following Him. The way of Christ is not the way of the world. Hence, authentic Christianity stands a contradiction to the standards of the world. Journeying with Christ in truth and spirit would warrant facing trials and persecutions instigated by the invisible enemy, who wouldn’t want man to experience beatific vision. As many disciples left and stopped following Jesus, He is asking you personally, how about you, do you also want to walk away? In our contemporary society, Jesus is looking for a vessel, like St. Juliana, who will go and announce to the people on and beyond this solemnity, that Jesus alone is Life, He alone is the Way, and He alone is the Truth. Just as our body yearns for food, our soul and spirit are thirsty and ever restless without Jesus. It is only Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament, that can satisfy and quench our spiritual thirst. Receiving Him in the communion, we are energized, inspired, and transformed daily as new creatures. No wonder St. Maximilian Kolbe whispers, “If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion.” In this solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, we celebrate Jesus as the source and summit of our life.