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Featured Exploring the Word

22 Jun 2025 - Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), Cycle C

The wonderful season of Easter surrenders each year to what might feel like a dull doctrinal thud: the triple threat of Pentecost, Trinity, and Corpus Christi. It's like pushing away from a satiating banquet only to be invited on a heavy theological sojourn: Sorry, but it's hard to think big thoughts after a feast of these proportions! We know that church, Trinity, and Eucharist are important ideas, and we are, after all, the church that's espousing and celebrating these notions. But do we need to hand over three entire Sundays each year to a survey of these great elements of Christianity? We do. The church calendar invites us to deepen our faith with a wheel of opportunities: consolation in Advent, repentance in Lent, affirmation in Easter, and evangelization throughout Ordinary Time. During this short stretch of "idea feasts" we're also asked to do some catechesis. It's not that Catholics are unacquainted with the weighty doctrines we celebrate—although a surprising number may falter if asked to explain them. But in paying lip service year-round to these doctrines in our profession of faith, we may take them for granted if we don't explore their deeper meaning from time to time. Like any relationship, one that's ignored remains superficial or becomes irrelevant. What Paul tells the Corinthians about the Eucharist sets the stage for everything else we may say about it. Jesus offers this gift "on the night before he was handed over." Like any gift, it has a clear context. Our Eucharist can't be understood outside of its proximity to the Passion and death of Jesus. Christ makes his great self-offering before anyone else can lay claim to his life. When we proclaim this great truth, we proclaim his death. When we drink this cup, we share his death. Eucharist is thanksgiving: What we are grateful for is that Jesus laid down his life for his friends—you and I among them. As theologian Eugene Laverdiere points out, the giving and taking of Eucharist is far from a passive event. Jesus intends it, and we signal our intentions by our participation. Jesus gives his life—no one takes it from him without his permission. When we accept his life in the Eucharist, we join with Jesus in saying to the world: "This is my body, my life, and it is for you." We shouldn't take it if we don't mean it. We'd be fools to take it if we aren't prepared to do as we are saying. It's a big, hungry world out there, as the gospel story reminds us. Jesus invites us not to simply spread his Eucharist around but to "give them some food yourselves." Receiving consecrated food makes us consecrated people. This feast reminds us: It's time to live up to our reputation. Related scripture links The new command: John 13:15, 34 Institution of the Eucharist: Mark 14:22-25; Matt. 26:26-29; Luke 22:14-20 Identity in Christ: John 17:20-26; Rom. 12:4-5, 14:7-8; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Col. 1:24-29 Catechism links Eucharist: CCC 787-791; 1099; 1322-1405 Adapted from a previously published Exploring the word.

Authors Alice Camille

Eucharist

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Take Five for Faith Daily

Monday
January 19

That all may be one

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity began in 1908. The dates of the week were proposed by Father Paul Wattson, S.A., cofounder of the Graymoor Franciscan Friars. Popes Pius X blessed the concept and Benedict XV encouraged its observance. Protestant leaders in the mid-1920s also proposed an annual octave of prayer for unity. In 1948, with the founding of the World Council of Churches, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity became increasingly recognized by different churches throughout the world. Take a moment today to pray that while acknowledging our differences, Christians of various backgrounds and traditions may indeed all be one in Christ.

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