Sunday, May 25, 2008
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Reading 1 Reflection:
The first word Moses speaks in this reading is a very important one for God's people: "remember." They are to remember how God has guided them, tested them, and fed them in the desert. They are to remember how they chose to disobey God and how God continued to love them. Like a parent who always provides for the children, God fed the people manna. This sweet white substance fell on the ground, and the Israelites made cakes with it. God continued to feed them until they reached Canaan, the Promised Land.
Discussion Questions for Reading 1 :
Can you remember when Jesus quoted Moses and said, "Not by bread alone does man live. . ."? Where was Jesus when he said that? Can you remember what had just happened to Jesus before that, and what he was preparing to do? The desert is a symbol of journey, affliction, hunger, aloneness before God, preparation for our mission as baptized Christians. Each Lent we as a Church undergo a "desert time." At other times of the year, families or individuals often have "desert times," that is, times when they experience difficulties. Can you recall a desert time you have experienced? How did God help you or "feed" you in that time of hardship? Did the "desert time" prepare you for anything? What? How? What does the manna in this reading remind us of? How do you approach the Eucharist? Do you receive it as a gift of living bread from God, or has it become routine? Share ideas on ways to make awareness of this gift central to your week.
Reading 2 Reflection :
Paul, too, wants his readers to remember. He reminds us that the Eucharist makes us one with Christ and with one another. Each Eucharist causes us to re-member with the body of Christ. At Communion time this week, pray that the Body and Blood of Christ will draw the people of your parish closer together.
Discussion Questions for Reading 2 :
When someone says one thing and does another, we call that person a "hypocrite." It comes from the ancient Greek word for an "actor on a stage." A hypocrite pretends to be someone or something that he or she is really not. When we receive the Eucharist, we are saying that we are all one body in Christ, and that Christ is now living in us. After we receive the Eucharist what do our actions toward others say, whether we are at home with our families, at work, in traffic or on public transportation with other people who are made in the image and likeness of God? What about pointing out the hypocrisy of others? This is necessary if grave harm is being done. We have a responsibility to take our observations both to the person and also to someone else who can help. (In some cases, this may be an obligation of friendship. Friends must sometimes be bearers of hard truth.) However, in most cases, peoples' hypocrisy hurts themselves most of all. Their integrity suffers, and they miss the joy of living wholeheartedly as their true selves. Our highest role model is Jesus, who knew that no one is perfect (including me and you). Most of us struggle to do the best we can, and we are to look at one another with eyes of compassion. After all, Jesus said (in paraphrase here): "Treat others as you wish they would treat you." (See Matthew 7:12 for the actual quotation, now known as the Golden Rule.) Have you ever had to be a "bearer of hard truth" to a friend? How can you live wholeheartedly as your true self? How would you wish to be treated by others? How can you treat others as part of the body of Christ?
Gospel Reflection :
Today's reading takes place the day after Jesus has miraculously fed five thousand people with only five loaves and two fish. Now he wants the crowds to understand that he has come to give them "the living bread." Earthly bread, even manna, can only keep us alive for a time. But it cannot give us eternal life. Only Jesus himself, the Bread of Life, can do that. As Catholics, our greatest prayer of thanks is the Mass. Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist. When we receive Communion, we say Amen; that is, we believe that the bread and wine are now the Body and Blood of Christ.
Discussion Questions for Gospel:
In the comings and goings of everyday life, do you ever think of eternal life? Why? Why not? Have you ever wanted a moment to last forever? Why? One of the dictionary definitions of eternity is "without intermission." If we think of eternity as having no beginning and no end, that is, it always was and is and will be, then we are living in eternity now. There will be no intermissions for us. We will just keep on going and going and going. . . because we are in communion with, in union with, God, the source of all life. And we renew that union and receive more eternity, more life and more healing, every time we receive the Eucharist. What moments of your life need healing? What moments of your life would you like to bring into eternity? What would you like to carry into eternity with you? What can you do to have more of these "eternal moments" during the coming week?
Reflection by: CYBERFAITH
"Catholic resources for people of Faith"
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Reading 1 Reflection:
The first word Moses speaks in this reading is a very important one for God's people: "remember." They are to remember how God has guided them, tested them, and fed them in the desert. They are to remember how they chose to disobey God and how God continued to love them. Like a parent who always provides for the children, God fed the people manna. This sweet white substance fell on the ground, and the Israelites made cakes with it. God continued to feed them until they reached Canaan, the Promised Land.
Discussion Questions for Reading 1 :
Can you remember when Jesus quoted Moses and said, "Not by bread alone does man live. . ."? Where was Jesus when he said that? Can you remember what had just happened to Jesus before that, and what he was preparing to do? The desert is a symbol of journey, affliction, hunger, aloneness before God, preparation for our mission as baptized Christians. Each Lent we as a Church undergo a "desert time." At other times of the year, families or individuals often have "desert times," that is, times when they experience difficulties. Can you recall a desert time you have experienced? How did God help you or "feed" you in that time of hardship? Did the "desert time" prepare you for anything? What? How? What does the manna in this reading remind us of? How do you approach the Eucharist? Do you receive it as a gift of living bread from God, or has it become routine? Share ideas on ways to make awareness of this gift central to your week.
Reading 2 Reflection :
Paul, too, wants his readers to remember. He reminds us that the Eucharist makes us one with Christ and with one another. Each Eucharist causes us to re-member with the body of Christ. At Communion time this week, pray that the Body and Blood of Christ will draw the people of your parish closer together.
Discussion Questions for Reading 2 :
When someone says one thing and does another, we call that person a "hypocrite." It comes from the ancient Greek word for an "actor on a stage." A hypocrite pretends to be someone or something that he or she is really not. When we receive the Eucharist, we are saying that we are all one body in Christ, and that Christ is now living in us. After we receive the Eucharist what do our actions toward others say, whether we are at home with our families, at work, in traffic or on public transportation with other people who are made in the image and likeness of God? What about pointing out the hypocrisy of others? This is necessary if grave harm is being done. We have a responsibility to take our observations both to the person and also to someone else who can help. (In some cases, this may be an obligation of friendship. Friends must sometimes be bearers of hard truth.) However, in most cases, peoples' hypocrisy hurts themselves most of all. Their integrity suffers, and they miss the joy of living wholeheartedly as their true selves. Our highest role model is Jesus, who knew that no one is perfect (including me and you). Most of us struggle to do the best we can, and we are to look at one another with eyes of compassion. After all, Jesus said (in paraphrase here): "Treat others as you wish they would treat you." (See Matthew 7:12 for the actual quotation, now known as the Golden Rule.) Have you ever had to be a "bearer of hard truth" to a friend? How can you live wholeheartedly as your true self? How would you wish to be treated by others? How can you treat others as part of the body of Christ?
Gospel Reflection :
Today's reading takes place the day after Jesus has miraculously fed five thousand people with only five loaves and two fish. Now he wants the crowds to understand that he has come to give them "the living bread." Earthly bread, even manna, can only keep us alive for a time. But it cannot give us eternal life. Only Jesus himself, the Bread of Life, can do that. As Catholics, our greatest prayer of thanks is the Mass. Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist. When we receive Communion, we say Amen; that is, we believe that the bread and wine are now the Body and Blood of Christ.
Discussion Questions for Gospel:
In the comings and goings of everyday life, do you ever think of eternal life? Why? Why not? Have you ever wanted a moment to last forever? Why? One of the dictionary definitions of eternity is "without intermission." If we think of eternity as having no beginning and no end, that is, it always was and is and will be, then we are living in eternity now. There will be no intermissions for us. We will just keep on going and going and going. . . because we are in communion with, in union with, God, the source of all life. And we renew that union and receive more eternity, more life and more healing, every time we receive the Eucharist. What moments of your life need healing? What moments of your life would you like to bring into eternity? What would you like to carry into eternity with you? What can you do to have more of these "eternal moments" during the coming week?
Reflection by: CYBERFAITH
"Catholic resources for people of Faith"
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