The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ
“When you have received Him,
stir up your heart to do Him homage,
speak to Him about your spiritual life,
gazing upon Him in your soul where He is present
for your happiness; welcome Him as warmly as possible,
and behave outwardly in such a way, that your actions
may give proof to all of His Presence.”
– St. Francis de Sales
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is also known as the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, which translates to "Body of Christ."
This feast calls us to focus on two manifestations of the Body of Christ, the Holy Eucharist and the Church. Our attention is called to the Eucharist and the Real Presence of Christ in it. Jesus gives himself to us in the Eucharist as spiritual nourishment because of his love for us. The whole Christ is truly present -- body, blood, soul, and divinity -- under the appearances of bread and wine. By his Real Presence in the Eucharist Christ fulfils his promise to be with us "always, until the end of the age".
We also focus on the Body of Christ as it is present in the Church. The Church is called the Body of Christ because of the intimate communion Jesus shares with his disciples. Jesus is present to us in many ways through the Body of Christ. We meet him in his Word, in the poor and vulnerable, in our neighbors, when two or more are gathered in prayer, and in the Sacraments.
The Feast of Corpus Christi is commonly used as an opportunity for public Eucharistic processions, which serve as a sign of common faith and adoration. Our worship of Jesus in His Body and Blood calls us to offer to God our Father a pledge of undivided love and an offering of ourselves to the service of others.
In receiving holy Communion, we truly encounter the risen Christ, who gives himself to us as food and drink, his “body and blood.” As Nathan Mitchell has said so well, “The body of Christ offered to Christians in consecrated bread and wine is not something but someone.”
Today, Resurrection focused on the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ in the two manifestations: the Eucharist and the Church.
Beginning with prayer, adoration, a procession, song, and benediction, we honored the Blessed Sacrament as the source and summit of our faith. Then we were sent out on a mission to Paul's Pantry. We brought the Body of Christ as the church to help feed our neighbors.
In Father Tom's Homily this weekend, he reflects and, in turn, asks us to reflect upon the effects of receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. Take time this weekend as a Church of the Home to mediate and discuss these three points/questions:
When we receive the Body and Blood of Christ, we become Christ's Body and Blood. Are we allowing the gift of the Eucharist to transform us? How has your life changed over the years of receiving the Eucharist? How are you growing in spiritual strength every time you receive the Body and Blood of Christ?
The Body and Blood of Christ not only strengthen our relationship with Jesus but also can also strengthen our relationship with our family, friends, and neighbors. Are you bringing Christ to those around you? How are you sharing the Eucharist in word and action?
We are called to be the Body and Blood of Christ for the world. How can we be life and salvation to those around the world? Can we bring the presence of Christ to those we will never meet?
Now, take time to make an action plan for growing all three of these areas. What can you and your Church of the Home be Eucharist in word and action, personally, locally, and globally? Examples include:
donate to and/or work in a food pantry
join causes that work for justice for the marginalized
support efforts of organizations like Catholic Relief Services
make time for prayer and reflection before and after receiving the Eucharist
take part in Eucharistic Adoration
Revival’s in the Air
The National Eucharistic Revival is a movement to restore understanding and devotion to this great mystery here in the United States by helping us renew our worship of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Check out their website to learn more. You can create an account and access resources like the video below.
Join us for Mass this weekend in person at 4:00 PM on Saturday, 8:30 or 10:30 AM on Sunday, on www.gbres.org/live, our YouTube channel, and our Facebook page.
READINGS FOR THIS WEEKEND’S MASSES
VIRTUALLY SUNDAY REFLECTION
We are the body and blood of Christ. Whenever one member of the body is hurting, the whole body hurts. It is the role of prophets to speak out against society's brokenness and proclaim that a different way is possible. We can do better to revere Christ who is manifest in us all. Join Bridget as she reflects on this weekend's scripture readings.
Families
This Weekend's Bulletin
(click to read)
Newest Members of our Parish Family
Recent Losses in our Parish Family
60 Days of Gratitude and Hope
As we officially begin our countdown to our 60th Anniversary as a parish, we offer daily thoughts written by charter members, past and current pastoral leaders, and parishioners of all ages.
We hope their stories of our beginnings,
of moments of faith,
of signs of promise,
and prayers of gratitude
inspire us all to move into the future,
a future full of hope.
Share your memories, reflections, thoughts and stories via our online form
or email Tony Staley at TonyRes60th@gmail.com
by June 25.
Announcements
Ruby and Res
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