UNITED BY BODY AND BLOOD.

THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST.
June 14, 2009.
(First reading: Exodus 24:3-8) (Psalm 116:12-18)
(Second reading: Hebrews 9:11-15) (Gospel: Mark 14:12-16, 22-26)


UNITED BY BODY
AND BLOOD.

Body and blood are the material elements which are common to all human beings.

By taking on our physical body and blood Jesus has entered into a communion with us. Now we must respond by turning our body and blood - that is our whole being - into his Body and Blood.

In order to ensure that we become the body and blood of Jesus, he gives us his Body and Blood.
Just as our biological parents give us their body and blood, so does God gives us his Body and Blood.

And, just as we cooperate with our parents by protecting the life we have received from them, so, we must also cooperate with God by allowing him to live and work in us always through his Body and Blood.

Along with his body and blood, God gives us the whole world in order for us to turn it into his Body and Blood. The gospel speaks of the disciples' responsibilities to prepare the upper room wherein Jesus was to formally give us his Body and Blood.

The upper room - says Mark - was "furnished and ready", but it was necessary that the disciples "make the preparations there" (Mark 14:15) and so they did.

Now, God has given humanity the "upper room" of the world (the entire world, in fact) for us to prepare it by living in unity with one another, by caring for human life in all its stages, by eliminating war, by respecting our fellow human beings, by bringing about peace and justice to all.

When we achieve achieve all that then we can rest assured that we have been worthy recipients of the Body and Blood of Jesus.