11/06/2023
Reflection:
Solemnity of the Most Holy Body & Blood of Jesus Christ
We celebrate today the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body & Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. In today's gospel, Jesus said: "Truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day." Our Lord Jesus is inviting us to eat His flesh and drink His blood for what reason? Salvation or eternal life, Jesus is offering to us. Why? "For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Jesus is the living bread that comes down from heaven, and His coming makes our life abundantly - "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10)
What such great love that anyone could give to us. Jesus' suffering and death on the cross are everything. As the living bread, He is offering us because it's the only way that could quench our hunger and thirst for everything that we could long for in this life. Jesus' body and blood are our eternal life.
The Jews wonder and even ask Him, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" and Jesus replied, "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him." Upon hearing the statement of Jesus offering His Body and Blood to eat and drink respectively, the Jews were baffled because they were thinking literally of merely eating and drinking just like we always do when we eat and drink. But Jesus said, "Abides in me, and I in him" connotes a deeper meaning to our Christian faith. Jesus is inviting us to accept Him as our Savior, yet of course, it is so hard to accept if we don't know very well who is inviting us. But this is Jesus - the only Begotten Son, the Emmanuel, the Messiah, and for us to accept Him, we must believe at the onset. Remember, John 3:16 says that "...whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." The moment we believe, the moment we accept Jesus, and the moment we open our hearts to the Lord, then we can all have salvation. Jesus should be the focal point of our being, the reason for everything, in words and especially in deeds. Besides, in everything that we do, Jesus is our source of inspiration yet we cannot do this if we will not humble ourselves before the Lord, our maker. Jesus will not abide in us if we are full of pride, 2 Chronicles 7:14 says "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." In regard, Jesus gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (James 4:6)
As Jesus is inviting us that we should remain in Him. He is also inviting us to "Follow Him" just like He called St. Matthew. St. Matthew was called at an opportune time and in God's perfect timing when St. Matthew will respond to Jesus' calling wholeheartedly. As Jesus also called the Prophet Samuel three times, the Prophet Samuel, responded, "Speak Lord, for your servant, is listening." (1 Samuel 3:10). May this celebration of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body & Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen our faith and trust in Him and give us the grace to a heart full of humility & discerning spirit so that we can always hear the voice of God speaking to us daily. The moment we hear God's calling, let us open our hearts humbly full of happiness accepting Him so that Jesus will remain with us forever. Amen
