Solemnity of Corpus Christi
Dear Friends,
Happy Solemnity of Corpus Christi! On this momentous feast, we ponder the incredible gift that is the core of our Catholic faith: that the God of the universe not only became man and offered his life for our salvation, but also established a lasting covenant of love with us by giving us the gift of his very body and blood in the Eucharist.
A covenant is a binding promise and commitment between God and man, and we see God establish covenants with his people throughout the Old Testament. He establishes a covenant with Adam and Eve, with Noah, with Abraham, with Moses, and with David. In each of these covenants, God keeps his promises to his people, but time and again, human sin gets in the way and causes the relationship to fracture.
When Jesus finally comes as the Messiah, his life and mission are the perfect fulfillment of these prior covenants. He says “yes” to God in the garden where Adam and Eve said no. He keeps God’s promise to Noah by offering forgiveness for sins. He brings the blessing to all nations that was promised to Abraham, and he is the “only son” who is sacrificed in Isaac’s place. He is the sacrificial lamb whose blood saves his people, just like the Passover lamb of Moses. He is the “Son of David” who brings about the eternal kingdom.
Not only does Jesus fulfill these Old Testament Covenants, but he establishes a new and eternal covenant, one that we still partake of today. This New Covenant established by Jesus brings us into relationship with God as sons and daughters, making us heirs to eternal life by the salvation Christ won for us. And just like every Old Testament covenant, this new covenant comes with “signs” by which we can enter into it. As Jesus offers his body and blood at the last supper, he says “this is my blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins...do this in memory of me.”
So at every Mass, when Jesus’s Body and Blood become present in the Eucharist, we are not just “receiving Communion,” we are participating in a holy and mysterious covenantal relationship which is the culmination of all of salvation history. When the priest offers us Jesus’ body and we respond with “Amen,” we are saying yes to this profound and intimate relationship between God and his people. We are saying yes, that we believe that Jesus is our savior and that he is present in the Eucharist; we are saying yes, that we want him to dwell within us, that we desire to be with him forever in Heaven.
This is an amazing and mind blowing gift! God loves us so deeply, and desires a relationship with us so completely, that he becomes physically present to us in the shape of bread and wine. He makes himself small so that we will not fear to approach him and receive him into our very selves. Today, let us receive Jesus with gratitude and love, saying “Amen” with all our heart as he comes to dwell within us.
-Jule Coppa, Penn Campus Minister
