Category: Eucharist

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Communion

Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (B)

One of the names we have given to the Sacrament of the Eucharist is Communion. Communion is the opposite of isolation. The word reminds us that, by our sharing in this sacrament, we also share in the Lord’s very Body and Blood. Moreover, we share this as a community of faith. We are also the Body of Christ. No matter what the vocation of each one of us may be, none of us ever walks this path alone. We walk with the Lord and we walk with our sisters and brothers in Christ.  Continue reading “Communion”

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Why Mass?

Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (B)

Note: In Year B, we follow Mark’s Gospel for the most part. However, just as we reach the point where Mark will give us the account of Jesus’ feeding the multitudes with a few loaves of bread and fish, the Church switches to John’s version of that feeding. For the next five Sundays, our Gospel is drawn from John 6. Since John isn’t part of the regular Ordinary Time cycle, the Church slips his Gospel in at other times, mainly Lent and Easter. Here, it’s to give us a chance to hear from John’s theology of the Eucharist and to ponder it over the next few weeks. To help you get an overall picture, try reading all of John, chapter 6, in one sitting. It will give you a good overview and will help you situate each Sunday’s Gospel reading in its context.  Continue reading “Why Mass?”

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Covenant and Sacrifice

Corpus Christi (B)

This Sunday, we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi – the Body and Blood of Christ. As Catholics, our attention this day naturally focuses on the Sacrament of the Eucharist, which makes present to us – sacramentally – the very Body and Blood of Christ. Yet, the Scripture readings we have for this day speak to us of covenant and sacrifice as well as blood. The first two readings mention the rites of animal sacrifice that were prevalent in ancient Israel.   Continue reading “Covenant and Sacrifice”

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Food For The Journey

Corpus Christi (A)

Two weeks ago, we celebrated the feast of Pentecost, which also marks the end of the Easter season in our liturgical calendar. Parish liturgy committees (and others) are told that, after Pentecost, we move into Ordinary Time. Out with Easter white and Pentecost red, and in with Ordinary green!

Well, not so fast.

Although we do move into Ordinary Time right after Pentecost Sunday, the Church adds two more “white” Sundays immediately following Pentecost: Trinity Sunday and then Corpus Christi, or The Body and Blood of Christ, which we celebrate this Sunday (along with Father’s Day in the USA).  Continue reading “Food For The Journey”