Reflection from Fr. Charlie – Solemnity of The Body and Blood of Christ

Exodus 24:3-8 

Hebrews 9:11-15 

Matthew 28:16-20 

In many ways, June is a month of remembering. Those of you who are  graduating remember significant moments in your educational journey. It may be  a time to show a sign of gratitude to a particular teacher who has been a person  who helped you to grow significantly. On June 20th, we remember our dads, living and deceased who have helped form us into the people we are. The people of  Sacred Heart Parish remember their feast day on June 11th of this month. As we celebrate this solemnity, we remember the OT covenant and NT covenant in the  person of Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life.  

This reading today from the Book of Exodus is a celebration of the covenant  which grounds the new one inaugurated by Jesus Christ. This book celebrates the  ministry of Moses. Remembering does not fix us on to the past but frees us and  gives us the confidence to move forward. The Hebrew people considered blood to  be sacred so it is fitting that as they are sprinkled with it, they acclaim, “All that the Lord has spoken, we will do”. 

In the gospel today, Mark separates the Last Supper on the day of Passover, clearly saying Jesus is the new Passover lamb which we celebrate at each  Eucharist. We continue the remembrance. In Mark’s Church, the Eucharist was  celebrated at the end of the common meal. It contains very similar gestures.  

We know the Eucharist is essential to our faith – the absence of it as this  time highlights that! In time, the Eucharist was celebrated daily; in time the  importance of the reserved sacrament arose; in time the Eucharist for the dying  (Viaticum) gained prominence. 

Pope Francis reminds us, “ Receive Communion every time as if it were the first time.”