Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

June 6, 2010

Gen 14, 18-20
1 Cor 11, 23-26
Lk 9, 11-17

The story of multiplication of the loaves from St. Luke’s gospel always fascinates me. The story is something very personal to me.

Jesus “Taking the five loaves and two fish, looking up to heaven, said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.”

Jesus took the bread. If I was one of the loaves of bread Jesus took … why me?

I was planning to get out of the seminary on the seventh year of my formation. We were having our 30-day retreat in Baguio. One of our retreat masters, Fr. Dong Alpuerto, SVD asked the 49 novices “Of all plants and flowers, why only these plants and flowers (pointing at them) are here in the chapel?” When I heard that, I asked myself, “Why me, Lord?” From then on, , I decided to continue my seminary formation. After a couple of years more, my application for perpetual vows under the SVD Constitutions was in front of me. Before signing up I asked myself again, “Why me, Lord?” “How about my limitations and weakness, Lord?” The Lord seemed to tell me: “Arlo, if I have chosen you, I already considered your limitations and weaknesses!” With tears in my eyes because I felt so much love from God, I signed my application.

Jesus blessed the bread. How did Jesus bless me? How did he bless us?

In our Liturgical  Bible Study, I realized that “pronouncing the blessing” is the same as “giving thanks.” If he chose me then he must have blessed me just like Abram in the first reading. Melchizedeck “blessed Abram with these words: ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth; and blessed be GodMost High, who delivered your foes into your hand.’ “ And out of gratitude, Abram gave Melchizedeck a tenth of everything.

There are three kinds of blessings from the Lord. The first is something good that God has given us. For instance, in April 2007, Dr. Rodolfo Frez, my high school classmate in the seminary and a very brilliant orthopedic surgeon, successfully performed a total hip replacement on me. Now, physically fit, I can work on my ministries and priestly duties more effectively. The second is something bad that God did not allow to happen to us. One time I was driving, going up to Tagaytay City to give a talk in a recollection. A motorcycle took a u-turn about 20 meters in front of me. Stepping hard on my brakes, the car skidded, I had a full stop just less than a meter from him. I said: “Thank you, Lord, hindi nangyari!” And the third is even if God allowed something bad to happen, he will provide us with something better. We call this blessing in disguise. For example, a lot of my retreat materials like cassette tapes, a top-of-the-line camera, including mass kit and sound system were stolen from my car in 1992. Of course, I felt bad. But I offered this painful experience to the Lord with gratitude. St. Paul said: “…thank God in all circumstances because that is the will of God in Christ Jesus” (1 Thes 1:16-18). After only a month, God gave me back my original mass kit, better sound system and brand new cassette tapes and camera!”

Jesus broke the bread. Does breaking the bread mean our brokenness?

Yes. This is where God puts us to the test through our problems and hurts. What for? These trials are meant to purify and strengthen us and to put our trust in him. All of us have problems. No one is exempted. The problem is not the problem. The problem is the way we carry our problems. Some confront their problems with alcohol drinks, drugs and even suicide. Some others deal with their problems using their faith in God. They always believe that God will not give them trials beyond their capacity. St. Paul said: “God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it (1 Cor 10:13).

Jesus gave the bread to his disciples to set before the crowd.

Now we are ready to serve the Lord as eucharists through our witnessing. We become the body of Christ set before his people, the Body of Christ. And in the second reading, whenever we serve him as eucharists, we always do this in his memory. Yes, today we celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.

Fr. Arlo Bernardo Yap, SVD
CKMS, Quezon City
The Word in other Words