The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) Sunday
In our reading, we hear how on the night before he died, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread and said, “This is my body, which I am giving for you. When you eat this bread, remember me.” After supper, Jesus took a cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. When you drink from this cup, remember me.” Each time we eat this bread and drink from this cup we are proclaiming the death of the Lord until he comes again.
In our gospel, Jesus called himself the “Bread of Life.” Anyone who comes to Jesus will never be hungry for more and anyone who believes in Jesus will never be thirsty for more. If we eat of this bread (Jesus in Holy Communion) then we will live forever (in heaven) and Jesus will live forever in them. We will be raised up on the last day to live with God.
Special Saint/Feast Day: St. Ephrem – June 9
Ephrem was born around the year 306 in Mesopotamia. He was baptized when he was 18 years. He eventually went into the hills and became a hermit in Syria wearing rags for clothes and ate what the earth provided.
Ephrem used to become angry easily but he gained control over himself. He would refer to himself as a great sinner because his sins seemed very big to him even though they were small to others.
Ephrem wrote many spiritual books in several languages, as well as, hymns for public worship. His hymns became very popular and people learned lots about the faith when they sang them. He died in June of 373.
When we gather with our parish community for Mass, we can ask St. Ephrem to help us participate as well as we can. An important way to do this is to pray the prayers and responses out loud, and to join in singing the songs.