Body & Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

June 22, 2003

by Rev. Edward Correia

 

I go to a parishioner’s house each month. Her name is Bernadette Gomes. Some of you went to her house for Christmas caroling last year. Some go each week to bring her Communion.

I don’t call Bernadette before I go. This last visit caught her by surprise. She talked about many things including the pointsettia plant that was still growing leaves.

Then she said, "Did you come alone?"

I responded, "No".

Then I prayed with her and then gave her the person who had come with me.

I said, The Body of Christ.

She said, "Amen".

Bernadette is a person who really understands what the Eucharist is. Do we? When we say Amen to the words Body of Christ, are we saying, "Yes I believe"?

There are many non-Catholic Christians who speak about letting Christ into our lives. They are speaking about changing our lives in big ways and small ways so that Christ is the center of life.

When I say, "Amen", am I inviting Christ into my life? Is it just another response that I say at the Mass?

It is really Jesus who is coming into my life when I receive Holy Communion. Will I allow him to change my life? He comes to me as food so that He may feed me to change into Him. He wants of help me become what I have eaten.

The way we will know is whether I see changes in my life this week. they don’t have to be big changes. There has to be changes. Otherwise it was just a ritual.

Bernadette knew whom she was receiving. I bet she allows him to do marvels in her life.