The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Homily Video
The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Homily Transcript
I’ve been at St. Robert’s parish for a number of years and I love the parish community. And about three years ago, I married a couple who are very dear, close friends of mine.
They have a little boy now who is about 20 months old. And I can’t tell you how thrilled I am when they send me a picture of this little boy, Julian or when they send me a video of some of his behavior, and it’s always best when I have the opportunity to spend time with them and with Julian. In fact, I’d rather spend time with Julian than the mom and dad.
[laughter]
I got a photograph recently and it just made my heart smile. Think of the image of making your heart smile. Here is Julian with his father; they’re both on the floor of their home, they have a wagon turned upside down.
The dad, Jim has a drill in his hand and he’s putting the tire onto the wagon. Julian’s on the other side, on the floor, with a toy drill in his hand and he’s putting the wheel -so he thinks- on the wagon. He’s doing exactly what his father is doing.
Today we celebrate the feast day of Corpus Christi, the body of Christ. One of the images or one of the invitations of this feast day is, we are to become what we behold. Think about that.
We are to become what we behold. Julian beholds his father and wants to become like him. We imitate and we want to become what we truly know is important in our lives.
You know, every time we gather to celebrate eucharist we elevate the host and we say, “Behold Jesus, behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”
We are to become what we behold. We are to become the body of Christ for others. We get nourished by the presence of Christ in the eucharist that we celebrate. And then we go out into the world and we are the body of Christ for others.
That’s what he invites us to be. That’s what it means to be a disciple.
Matthew 25: Feed the hungry, visit those who are in prison, give water to those who are thirsty. Feed those who are hungry, give clothing to those who are naked. That’s how we imitate. That’s how we are the body of Christ to others in the world.
Behold Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Behold Jesus, who invites us. Come and follow as a disciple.
We are to become what we behold, what we celebrate here and now at this eucharist.
Readings
First Reading:
Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a
Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
Gospel:
John 6:51-58
Featured Text
A special thank you to our congregation from St. Robert Bellarmine, St. Constance, St. Rosalie, St. Ferdinand, St. John Brebeuf, and St. Pascal Parishes in Chicago.
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