We receive the Body of Christ so that we become the Body of Christ

The early Christians were accused of many dreadful things but perhaps their greatest reported crime was the suggestion that they were cannibals. Where ever Christians gathered rumours abounded that they were meeting on Sunday evenings and eating human flesh.

Of course we know how this crazy rumour came about. The followers of Jesus believed that they ate the flesh of Christ. Hence the belief that Christians were cannibals.

At Mass we do eat the Body of Christ. So are we cannibals? Of course not. Cannibals eat dead flesh. We receive the living Body of Christ in his entirety - body, blood, soul, divinity.

Nutritionists tell us that we become what we eat. We in our turn are called to become the Body of Christ whom we receive at Mass. We receive the Body of Christ so that we become the Body of Christ.

Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus welcomed the people; he spoke to them of the Kingdom of God; he healed those who were sick; and he sought to their practical needs by feeding them when they were hungry.

Those of us who want to live out our calling to be Christ’s Body can take our lead from today’s Gospel. As a people we must be welcoming. We must share Christ’s word about God’s Kingdom. We must be a healing presence; and our ministry to others must always be at the level of the most practical.

Fr. Ruairi O’Domhnaill, Newbridge

Gospel reading can be found at Catholic Ireland.net