Corpus Christi, what a gift

 

St. Angela of Foligno was a Franciscan mystic back in the 13^th century and she had a great love for Jesus and the Blessed Sacrament.

 I bring her name up because this Sunday we celebrate Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ.  Of Jesus truly living in the Blessed Host we receive each time we are in the state of grace

 There is something very special St. Angela has said that should put tears in our eyes each time we receive Jesus.

 She said, “Jesus, you instituted this Sacrament, not through any desire to draw some advantage from it yourself, but solely moved by a love which has no other measure than to be without measure.

 Burning with love for us. You desired to give yourself to us and took up Your dwelling in the consecrated Host, entirely and forever, until the end of time.

 For those in the state of grace, do we, in our minds, think of this precious gift, each time we receive Jesus. Do you even imagine, that he is, in that little consecrated host, who is a true furnace of love?

 That at that moment of reception we are plunged deeper and deeper into the love of Christ.

 Can we even imagine, that just before we receive that consecrated host, that Jesus is waiting for us, He is longing for us?

 That he wants so desperately to dwell within our whole being; that he knows we need him.

 And it is Jesus, out of his love for us who will lead us to the Father, when our time comes, as is written in Scripture, “no one comes to the Father except through me.

 This Sunday is a day the Lord has made and it is the feast of Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ.

 St. Francis de Sales has said, “to think deeply that in this world we are walking between paradise and hell, and the last step of our life will carry us to our eternal dwelling.

 But we do not know when this last step will be, so we must be careful about all the other steps that precede it”.

 A step to the altar to receive the greatest gift becomes the meeting place of heaven and earth, the meeting between the Jesus and us.

 Why is it so important to be prepared? Because we truly do exchange our gifts at that altar, and are united together in this Sacrament of the Eucharist. Imagine, we become one with Jesus

 “I am the Bread of Life”. Yes, it is a gift for the journey, the nutrients for our soul. Jesus tells us, “Whoever eats my body and drinks my blood will have eternal life.”

 But Jesus’ gift isn’t always cherished, isn’t always accepted and is even sometimes abused.

This gift, the miracle of his presence, his real body and blood is sometimes received as passé, routine, with no thought or a care of the greatest sacrifice behind this precious gift. 

 How hurt Jesus must be when this treasure, his communion with us is received and treated without any emotion.

Jesus doesn’t want to remain only on the altar. He comes down to find another Heaven, the Heaven of our souls, a prepared heart to welcome him. A sanctuary to dwell in.

 St. Paul says, “Whoever eats the bread of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. 

 For anyone who eats the bread without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on one’s self. It is a serious sin.

 Whether you receive Jesus physically or spiritually, prepare a home for him, prepare your heart for the greatest gift, and for the greatest friend.

 I leave you with a question to ponder from St. Alphonsus. “O, Lord, You find your delight in being with us, but do we find ours in being with you?”