Experiencing Corpus Christi

By Joan Weber

When I was a child, the Feast of Corpus Christi was a major event in my small Catholic town. We had a huge outdoor procession from the basilica, stopping at a small chapel and again at a street corner for special prayers before winding back to the basilica. Our pastor led the procession in full vestments, carrying the elaborate monstrance with the sacred Host for all of us to venerate. Those of us girls who had made our First Holy Communion that year got to wear our white dresses, veils, and tights one more time. We carried bouquets of fresh flowers and dropped petals along the procession route to make it beautiful for Jesus.

What was the big deal? For the children, it was the pageantry and color and movement. What we didn't comprehend was what we were celebrating: the Eucharist, the Body of Christ, Corpus Christi. Little did we know that we were marking our own participation in that body. And in the pre-Vatican II Church, I am not sure that many of the adults were conscious of that, either.

Vatican II brought us back to our Biblical roots. The Council fathers reminded us that we, the Church, are the body of Christ on earth. The bishops quoted St. Paul who, in his first letter to the Corinthians, taught: "As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. . . . Now you are Christ's body, and individually parts of it." (1 Cor. 12:12-13, 27) Paul continued that teaching in his letter to the Ephesians: "And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way." (Eph. 1:22-23)

If we only took this teaching to heart! What would the world be like if we acted like we really are Christ's body? Would there be world peace? Would people love their enemies and pray for their persecutors? Would God's kingdom come? When I contemplate the possibilities, I am reminded of a quip which was popular when I taught high school religion: "The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried."

This week we celebrate once again the Feast of Corpus Christi. Some of us may mark this feast day with a procession. Others may miss it altogether. Hopefully at least some of us will be saying yes to being Christ's body. We will accept the difficult challenge of being Christ-like to all those who need Christ in their lives. We will celebrate the Eucharist as the most precious gift Jesus gave us. Vince Nims' It's More Than Wine and Bread reminds us of what happens when we participate in the Eucharist:

When we eat this bread, our eyes are opened.
When we drink this wine, we hear your voice.
When we celebrate this sacrifice, our hearts become restored.

I once heard a Christian brother teach a group of Eucharistic ministers-in-training that we are what we eat. He was referring, of course, to the power of communion. We are the body of Christ when we partake of the host and wine. As Vince Nims' sings:

And it's more than wine; it's your blood.
And it's more than bread; it's your body.
When we receive you, Lord, we are transformed into your church.

Which part of the body of Christ will you be this week? Will you be his heart for someone who needs love? Will you be his ears for someone whom others ignore? Will you be his hands and feet for the poor and marginalized? Will you be his voice for those who need to hear Good News? Let us pray:

God the Father, you sent your Son to show us the way to you. When Jesus ascended into heaven, he left us to be his physical body on earth. Send your Spirit upon us to give us the tender hearts and courageous souls needed to be Christ's body for all the world. Amen!

Spirit Compass reflections are developed in partnership
with the Center for Ministry Development.