Sometimes it is very easy to tune things out, especially when we are hearing something that is familiar, where we have heard it before. Like when we listen to a reading at Mass for instance that took place a really long time ago and because we have heard it before and we know the story, we may it tune out a little bit. I find myself sometimes saying, “Yup, I know this one. I get it.” Today might be one of those days with Moses speaking to the people about sacrifices and the Gospel of Mark where Jesus is talking about his Body and Blood. We know this story.

Well, today though is different, it is Corpus Christi, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Why does the Church dedicate a Sunday completely to His Body and Blood? I mean, we know all this right? Maybe we do… or maybe not quite as well as we think.

You see, this Sunday wraps up all of what is most important to our beliefs as Catholics in an important package. It answers the question of why we fixate on the Eucharist so completely. If we understand that, then we unlock the mystery of his saving efforts for us and we get the keys to eternity. Let’s take a look together.

To understand the importance of and the fixation on the Eucharist as the center of our faith, we need to step back to Moses in Exodus for a quick minute. In the reading we heard this morning, Moses tells the people that God has made a covenant with them – if they stick to his “words and ordinances” they will remain in God’s protection and love. Moses teaches the people that they must make “peace offerings to the Lord.” While these “peace offerings” cleansed the flesh, they did not bring about redemption.

Fast forward to the Gospel and we hear about a new covenant that Jesus is establishing with us that replaces the one from Moses’ time. This again involves a sacrifice like in Exodus, but this time it is Jesus himself who is sacrificed. This offering goes so much further than when Moses offered animals for sacrifice, this one doesbring about redemption and the path to eternal life. 

You know, every time we face this altar, we hear those familiar words, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body which will be given up for you.” And, “Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and everlasting covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.” When we hear that, we are not just hearing a familiar story. We are instead re-presented with his very same sacrifice, the Paschal Mystery in action at every Mass. He said his Body will be given up for us and so it was. He says, “Do this in memory of me” and so we should.

When we hear those words, Jesus is speaking to us through the priest, offering us his Body so that we can become the Body of Christ. Every time we come to Mass, Jesus re-presents Holy Week to us, and we are able to become more and more the Body of Christ. And by becoming the Body of Christ, we have access to the Father and eternity… because of what Jesus did for us. This is his great gift to each and every one of us.

That’s why we hunger to receive the Eucharist every week. That’s why we come to Mass to hear his words. When we face this altar and the priest says those words, we are actually participating in that same sacrifice that Jesus does for us. We are offering up our sins to be nailed to that cross, we are offering up our pain, hurt and wounds to be joined with his. We are doing what he asked when he said, “do this in memory of me.”

So today on Corpus Christi, we recognize what he did, why he did it and thus how important his Body and Blood is for us. This is his new covenant with each of us individually, his promise to get us to eternity. The way we receive his grace is through this sacrament of his Body and Blood. By receiving the Eucharist as frequently as we can, we honor the sacrifice he made for us and receive the rewards of that sacrifice – our redemption.

This is the centerpiece of our faith. Our savior doing what he was sent to do, what his life’s mission was and is. To save us. 

Who offers us such a great gift?

Our Savior, that’s who.