Transubstantiation

Feast of Corpus Christi, cycle A

The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has underscored the unbreakable link between our celebration of Corpus Christi and Holy Thursday when Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist.  In that Holy day, Christ transformed the whole world to himself from death to life, from condemnation to redemption, making us pleasing offerings to the Father.

In the celebration of Corpus Christ, the same transformation is happening: mystery of the transubstantiation or the changing of the substance of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.  The mystery of this change connotes three things:

First, that Jesus transforms the darkness of this whole world into his marvelous light.  Because of this redemption, the mystery we celebrate is rightfully called “thanksgiving” for we have so much to thank for; salvation is right before us.

Second, the changing of bread into his body applies to us when we eat the bread and drink the cup – we are assimilated in him.  In normal eating, food is assimilated in us; but in the Eucharist we are assimilated in Him.  We possess the same love Jesus has. We become instruments of Jesus in today’s world.

Thirdly, “in receiving communion” we allow ourselves to enter into the deepest act of unity possible – we become one with God and with one another.  This is the reality of being “Church”, and Pope Benedict reminds us to constantly lift the lives of our suffering brothers and sisters in order to fully realize the true meaning of “being Church” – totally one with the Most Holy Trinity and one with humankind as it is transformed according to the image of the Lord who said, "I will be with you until the end of time!"

May we adore the Lord in His Body and Blood in every mass that we celebrate!

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