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09 Nov 2014 - Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, Cycle A

If any one of you was ever told your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and therefore something you should keep pure, raise your hand. But Saint Paul actually had something a little different in mind. The “temple” is the church, the gathered body of Christians, the body of Christ. Each of us is a living stone building up the church on the foundation of Jesus. Today’s feast is as much a celebration of a magnificent physical structure as it is our unity as Christians in the church. We also celebrate our vocation to stay focused on the church’s mission, which is the building up of the kingdom of God.

temple body of christ

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Sign & sacrament

22 Jun 2014 - Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), Cycle A

Some might know that “eating the body of Christ” at the Lord’s Supper is best understood as a symbol of the Lord’s love and presence among us. But that’s not enough. The genteel young Southern fiction writer Flannery O’Connor must have shocked her companions when in conversation about the Eucharist, she once objected, “Well, if it’s a symbol, to hell with it.” In one of her letters, she wrote that the Eucharist “is the center of existence for me; all the rest of life is expendable.” The meaning of the Eucharist resists taming; it refuses to be reduced to a mere anything. Another American writer, poet William Carlos Williams, maintained that in a poem there are “no ideas except in things.” The Eucharist is not an abstract idea. It is an experience of mystery that will always be more than our struggle to articulate it. It is a “more” that is always shocking. For more “Sign & sacrament” material, search the Prepare the Word database by today’s scripture reading, a particular theme, or a special occasion.

Eucharist Bread body of christ

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Sign & sacrament

19 Aug 2012 - Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Some might know that “eating the body of Christ” at the Lord’s Supper is best understood as a symbol of the Lord’s love and presence among us. But that’s not enough. The genteel young Southern fiction writer Flannery O’Connor must have shocked her companions when in conversation about the Eucharist, she once objected, “Well, if it’s a symbol, to hell with it.” In one of her letters, she wrote that the Eucharist “is the center of existence for me; all the rest of life is expendable.” The meaning of the Eucharist resists taming; it refuses to be reduced to a mere anything. Another American writer, poet William Carlos Williams, maintained that in a poem there are “no ideas except in things.” The Eucharist is not an abstract idea. It is an experience of mystery that will always be more than our struggle to articulate it. It is a “more” that is always shocking.

Eucharist Flannery O’Connor William Carlos Williams body of christ

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Exploring the word

22 Apr 2012 - Third Sunday of Easter, Cycle B

FOR FOLKS WHO only go green on St. Patrick’s Day, it should be noted that today is Earth Day. People around the world are pleading the case for Mother Earth once more. Many Christians remain skeptical about a show of support for a world which is surely passing. Does the planet matter so much, because the Kingdom is coming and we’re on our way out of here anyway? Pope Benedict XVI, not a granola-munching liberal, updated the pop-justice bumper sticker in 2010 by declaring: “If You Want Peace, Protect Creation.” Calling governments, corporations, and individuals to account, the pope asked: “Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change, desertification, the deterioration and loss of productivity in vast agricultural areas, the pollution of rivers and aquifers, the loss of biodiversity, the increase of natural catastrophes, and the deforestation of equatorial and tropical regions?” In saying that Benedict added his voice to that of Pope Paul VI, who pointed out that by exploiting nature we create wide-ranging social problems which concern the entire human family. Pope John Paul II noted decades ago that “world peace is threatened” by a lack of due respect for nature. It seems the church insists on getting its hands dirty in the politics of ecology, no matter how much some may resist it. The material world does matter. Religion might seem like a purely spiritual realm properly concerned with prayer and ritual and inward things, but Christianity can never beg off on corporeal realities. Luke’s gospel deliberately makes the case that Christians are not Gnostics, who blow off the grim material world in favor of a higher spiritual plain. Honestly, Jesus the Ghost would have made more sense, been received more readily, and made a tidier religious doctrine to loft into the future. The body of Christ was tortured, torn upon the cross, and died. Best to leave it in the tomb and move on! Evangelists like Luke won’t take the easy way out. Easter begins as the women go out to anoint the body. Yes, Jesus has been dead for days, but what happens to his body still matters. Next, the pair traveling to Emmaus encounter Jesus. He might have appeared as a beam of light or a voice from heaven but he prefers to be a traveling companion and dinner guest, breaking bread with them. Finally, as these two recount the event to the astonished disciples, Jesus appears again and insists he is no ghost. He demands to be touched and he asks for food. Jesus won’t be a vision from heaven or remain God’s Great Idea up in the sky. Jesus insists we wash feet, anoint the sick, feed the hungry, and keep our fingers close to the world’s wounds. Related scripture links Great speeches in Acts: Peter—2:14-40; 3:12-26; 10:34-43; Stephen—7:2-53; Paul—13:16-41; 17:22-31; 20:17-35; 22:1-21; 24:10-21; 26:2-23 Response to Peter’s preaching: Acts 2:41 Touch: John 20:24-29; 1 John 1:1-3 The Christian call to testify: Acts 10:39-43 Catechism links Proclamation: CCC 1-3; 74; 429 Joy: CCC 301; 736; 1829; 1832 Peace: CCC 736; 1829; 1832; 2305; 2317

Authors Alice Camille

earth earthday green ecology care for god's creation Creation protection body of christ

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The inner word

26 Jun 2011 - Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), Cycle A

The readings and the solemnity itself speak of the living bread, the Body of Christ; the bread of eternal life and the church in which the many baptized come together as one to share that bread. This day should also awaken a hunger for God. How would you describe your deepest spiritual hunger? Spiritually, what do you need the most? What spiritual food would be most satisfying? How is this nourishment available to you?

Bread spiritual hunger body of christ

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Who's listening?

09 Jan 2011 - Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Cycle A

What level of understanding of baptism do your listeners have? Many may have a rather narrow notion that baptism is simply a mechanistic removal of a stain, whereas the Catechism of the Catholic Church calls baptism "a rich reality" that includes forgiveness of sin as well as birth into a whole new life by which we become adoptive children of God, "a member of Christ, and a temple of the Holy Spirit." By stepping into the waters of baptism, Jesus showed that the meaning that baptism reveals and brings about is universal and, in fact, "the way" we too must follow to come to know salvation.

baptism sin Community body of christ

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Exploring the word

05 Sep 2010 - Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

HALF MEASURES WILL never do. That is today's gospel response to the idea of the "good-enough Christian": one who basically colors inside the moral lines and meets the minimum requirements of church membership. Good-enough isn't good enough. Being the Body of Christ makes us sharers in the life of Jesus! And he was never known to do things halfway. That isn’t the popular answer, I know. Joseph Champlin wrote a thoughtful book 20 years ago titled The Marginal Catholic: Challenge, Don't Crush. He cautioned pastoral ministers to go slowly, invite warmly, and back off immensely when it comes to ecclesial rule-enforcement. We choose between representing "the cruel or compassionate church," in Champlin's terms. Certainly we're all in favor of compassion here. Challenging people too far ahead of where they are will surely be a compelling excuse for some to bail off the path of righteousness altogether. But it's perhaps more dangerous to give our assemblies the impression that Christianity has an agreeable comfort zone and it's right where they happen to be sitting. The satisfied Christian courts disaster. The plain truth is: Not being "bad" isn't the goal. Being a disciple of Jesus is the goal, and that's a lot harder. Consider the person constructing a tower with only a vague idea of the bottom line. That tower doesn't get built—but it does garner a few laughs at the would-be builder's expense. Abandoned worksites around the country today bear witness that quite a few people haven't thought through the cost of their ambitions lately. If our intention is to follow Jesus, we have to be thoughtful about the dimensions of this proposition. What does it cost to follow Jesus? Chances are you can see a symbol of that from where you're sitting: the cross. Discipleship is an expensive proposition. It costs everything you have and everything you are. Renounce all your possessions, Jesus says. This is no time to talk tithing; Jesus expects you to render the whole enchilada. Why is the price so high? Because the stakes are just as high. This earthen shelter of ours isn't for keeps. It's a collapsible tent, struck down in a handful of decades. It's a watch in the night, says the psalmist, come and gone. And the life of the body isn't only corruptible in terms of time but also in terms of virtue. We stand to lose everything worth having if we're not willing to pit everything we have as ballast against that inevitable corruption. Jesus isn't asking us to throw our stuff away. He's begging us not to throw our lives away. Take a few moments. Consider your blueprints. What are you building, and what are you willing to spend? Related scripture links Mortal knowing is indistinct: 1 Cor. 13:9-12 Paul the free prisoner: Rom. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Titus 1:1; Philem. 1 Don’t judge lest you be judged: Rom. 2:1-3; Luke 6:37-38; Matt. 7:1-5 Jesus also makes slaves into friends: John 15:13-15 No just deserts in the kingdom: Rom. 9:14-16 Catechism links Wisdom: CCC 1831 Jesus’ hard teaching: CCC 1618-1620; 2544

Authors Alice Camille

body of christ Community Participation discipleship sacrifice

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Exploring the word

04 Jul 2010 - Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

TOO MUCH INK has been spilt already deciphering the “marks” Saint Paul bore on his body. Was he the first recorded stigmatic? The consensus is: highly improbable. His metaphor makes perfect sense without lobbing on that phenomenon. Paul contradicts the emphasis of his own religious training on circumcision by insisting that the marks he's earned in Christ outrank it. And considering his arrests, beatings, flogging, and a stoning, the marks on Paul were visually impressive enough. The Body of Christ continues to bear many marks, among them four of a more cheerful nature. "One, holy, catholic, and apostolic" are the official marks of the church. You know it's church when these four attributes are present. Unity is present in the source, Jesus himself, before anyone does a thing to confirm or contradict it. Yet the church must also demonstrate unity, the precious gift squandered each time a group of unhappy Christians splinters off to attempt church elsewhere. By definition we can't be church that way. In forfeiting our unity, we lose our identity, for the Body of Christ needs all its parts to function effectively in the world. Second, church is holy. We see this aspect most persuasively in the lives of saints but also in all the sanctifying signs: sacraments, worship, prayer, religious life. Most of all, the church's holiness is manifest in the charity of its members: "See how these Christians love one another!" Third, the church is catholic. Not merely with a capital C as the Church of Rome is known but also the small-c community of believers who espouse our universal mission across time, culture, and all petty differences. The church belongs to the world, not only to its members. Our mission is for the human race and not only for Catholics who share its ideology and enjoy its tangible benefits. Finally, the church is apostolic, founded on the witness of the apostles which continues to be shared through a faithfully transmitted creed. Luke betrays his early catholicity in the story of the 72 disciples. Expanding on Matthew's mission of the 12 apostles, Luke sends out a greater number symbolically representing not only Israel's 12 tribes but the Table of Nations from Genesis 10 as well. This gospel is for all people, and the ministries of the church—healing, teaching, preaching—are not intended for insiders. These disciples show their unity by traveling in pairs, revealing their holiness in not jostling for better homes and finer meals. Their apostolic nature is obvious: They are sent by Jesus and return to him faithfully. If we want to know how well a parish or other faith community is mirroring "real church," we need only check to see if the marks of Christ are as visible on us. Related scripture links It is not good to be alone: Gen. 2:18 Blaming the other: Gen. 3:1-20 Brother against brother: Gen. 4:1-16 Creation against itself: Gen. 6:5-7:22 The curse of languages: Gen. 11:1-9 Table of the nations: Gen. 10:1-32 Catechism links The meaning of the cross: CCC 164; 605-618; 765-766; 786-787; 1521 Signs: CCC 755; 1145-1152

Authors Alice Camille

body of christ Saint Paul catholic church apostle

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Who's listening?

24 Jan 2010 - Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Sometimes scripture not only tells a story or points to a truth but also provides insight into itself. Preachers and ministers of the Word have a magnificent opportunity this week to explore this self-revealing dimension of scripture. The congregation in church can see themselves in the assembly before Israel, keenly attentive to the Word of God, responding to it—“Let the words of my mouth . . . find favor before you”—and moving from it to a feast. “Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life”; they refresh, guide, enlighten, give joy. Spirit and life are everywhere in the Body of Christ today, in the Word, in the Lord, in the people. See yourself as the instrument of this life-giving Spirit to people hungry and thirsty for it. Let it flow through you; spread it around.

body of christ joy spirit

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Homily stories

24 Jan 2010 - Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

I held a number of part-time jobs growing up, working in lots of low-level departments in businesses, factories, and shops. Wherever I worked, one thing was always the same. My co-workers would eventually get around to saying, “Nobody appreciates what we do. If it weren’t for us, this place would fall apart.” And of course, to varying degrees, they were right. Each group—from janitor to copy clerk, from the loading dock to the reception desk—had an important function to play. Yet from time to time they all felt unappreciated. Our culture focuses on a few celebrities at a time, which can have the effect of diminishing the worth of the many who are not in the limelight. But Saint Paul has some wise advice for anyone in an organization or group: Focus on the unity that’s possible because of your diversity. Bosses, elected officials, and parents who take the time to see and lift up those around them, giving each contributor their due, do a lot to heal the organization they are in—whether at work, the community, or the family. If each member of the family knows that who they are and the gifts they bring are seen and appreciated, jealousies fall away and more energy is available for exploring our truest identity as members of the one body of Christ. Then we’ll all realize that without any one of us, this place would fall apart.

Authors Tom McGrath

appreciate body of christ diversity

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