Homily for Corpus Christi June 3, 2018
Fr. Albert St. Peter’s, New Iberia
Flesh and Blood must die to pay for sin. When a mere mortal creature deliberately chooses to sin, to cut themselves off from the infinite, all-loving God, the consequence can only be death. It’s one reason sacrifice is so important right from the start of Genesis. Abel offers a sacrifice of flesh and blood, but Cain does not… and it is not acceptable. All the great covenants are sealed with a sacrifice of animals… a reminder that the price of breaking the covenant is the death of your own flesh and blood. That’s what’s happening with Moses in the first reading. The sacrificed animals are a reminder of that price, and he even sprinkles blood on the people to drive the point home.
From then on, the Jewish people offered many kinds of sacrifices. The High Priest had to sprinkle blood directly on the Ark of the Covenant, where God himself dwelt among His people. This was done every year as a way to plead for forgiveness and to cleanse the people who had entered into the sacred covenant. Flesh and Blood must die to pay for sin. But the flesh and blood of animals was not really enough. God allowed it as a stand-in, a substitution because, although he is a just God, he is not a cruel one.
The earthly tabernacle was a shadow, a symbol of the true holy place in heaven. The sacrifices were just signs of the true sacrifice. But, because these were signs and symbols given by God, they worked. As our second reading explains “the blood of goats and bulls” could actually “sanctify those who are defiled.” These sacrifices led to forgiveness. But that did not last. Eventually, “Christ came as high priest… passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle… not belonging to this creation, he entered once for all into the sanctuary… with his own blood.”
So, if the blood of an animal could cleanse us from sin, “how much more will the blood of Christ… cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.” And that’s why we’re here right now… to worship the living God. Not to have a concert. Not to hear me speak. Not to have a good time with friends. All of that is secondary. We are here to worship God and worship always requires a sacrifice.
Flesh and blood must die to pay for sin. On this feast of Corpus Christi, this feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, we thank God that the flesh and blood which pays for our sins is the flesh and blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. Unlike animal flesh, unlike even our own flesh, the flesh and blood of Jesus is infinitely valuable because it belongs to someone who is not only human, but also divine. The Eucharist is truly Jesus: body, blood, soul and divinity.
No, the Eucharist cannot be just a symbol. The entirety of the Old Testament hinged on sacrifices that were just symbols. It would make no sense for Jesus to replace those symbols with another, even less graphic symbol. At least killing an animal was dramatic; It left an impression. Animal sacrifice made the point that sinning against God deserves death. Either the Eucharist is really, truly the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus or we are all fools who have even less than the Jews did.
By God’s supernatural power, by the authority given to me through an unbroken connection to the Apostles, bread and wine actually change. It still looks, feels, smells, and tastes like ordinary food, but faith tells us it has changed. Faith tells us that the invisible reality, the substance of what is there is truly Jesus Christ: his Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.
Yet we do not stop at this miracle. The change is there by the time I lift up the host and chalice for you to adore, but I do not stop praying. Listen to the words of the Eucharistic prayer after that moment. I go on to offer this flesh and blood to God almighty. I offer a pure victim, a holy victim, a spotless victim… and that victim is Jesus. And notice that I don’t actually say “I” but rather “we.” By your presence and attention, you too are making this offering.
And the prayer goes on to ask for this sacrifice to be taken from this altar to the “altar on high in the sight of [God’s] divine majesty.” That is the “more perfect tabernacle,” the heavenly “sanctuary” described in our second reading. We, you and I in different ways, are offering a sacrifice of Jesus’ body and blood. It is not a new sacrifice, it does not re-crucify Jesus, but it makes present and allows us to join in the one, eternal sacrifice from 2000 years ago.
Why? Why all this formality? Why all this cryptic language of offering and sacrifice? Because this is how God told us to worship him. The Mass is not a human invention, but the design of God Himself. And it is that way because the truth is that flesh and blood must die to pay for sin. And the flesh and blood of Jesus did die, but it did not stay dead. Not only does his flesh and blood provide the price for all sins ever committed, but it goes beyond to win for us an infinite amount of grace. We have an opportunity not just to be forgiven, but also to become holy, to become like God, to find joy in this life and especially in eternal life.
And so we consume his flesh and blood. Even in the Old Testament, a sacred sacrifice led to a sacred meal. So, we complete our sacrifice by consuming the flesh and blood we offer. By God’s power a single crumb or a single drop is the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus. Unlike a sacrificed animal, unlike ordinary food which changes into our bodies, this food changes us into His body. By receiving the Eucharist worthily and with faith, we participate in the sacrifice and are transformed into the body of Christ.
Flesh and Blood must die to pay for sin. By receiving the Eucharist, we are given the chance to transform ourselves into the body that has already died and conquered death. We are given the chance to be forgiven, to become holy, to rise to new life with Jesus. That starts even now on earth and grows into eternity… if we cooperate with Him. So then, prepare yourself to receive. If you are not yet Catholic and so cannot receive, then consider this an invitation to join the Church to be able to share this sacred meal. If serious sin prevents you, seek confession. Fix whatever relationship or situation keeps you from receiving this sacred food. We priests may seem busy and hard to reach, but helping you get right with God and His Church matters most to us – we will make time if you ask. Please prepare yourself to receive Him.
Then come. Come with reverence for every crumb, every drop. Don’t treat this sacred food like a mere cracker… do not approach distracted and presumptuous. Receive it as the precious gift that it is, with humility and attention. Then, become the flesh that has died and risen again, not just to be forgiven of your sins, but to gain the only thing worth having: God Himself.