Procession: Follow Jesus

This season the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as Corpus Christi, is celebrated between the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity and the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Post-Easter solemnities draw us to the heart of our faith, life in the Blessed Trinity and Eucharist. Before the Eucharist we are invited to adore, to gaze upon the most precious body and blood of Christ, the one who redeems us for eternal life. 

You see Eucharist is not a “what” but rather “who;” the second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, the Word Incarnate, God with us, Messiah, savior, friend, Lord. It is a privilege for Catholics to behold and to eat the sacraments of all sacraments, Eucharist.  St. John Paul II writes, “For centuries the Church has chosen for the solemnity of Corpus Christi, the feast of adoration, contemplation and exaltation. On the feast the people of God draw close to the most precious treasure left by Christ, the sacrament of his own presence, and they praise, celebrate and carry it in procession through the streets of our cities” (Homily, June 14, 2001).

Following Jesus: Feeding of the 5,000 (Lk 9:11-17)

The Gospel passage read during the solemnity this year (Sunday, Cycle C) taken from St. Luke begins with the apostles, returning from nearby villages where they “proclaimed the good news and cured diseases everywhere.” They explained to Jesus the wondrous deeds done. Jesus, aware of their fatigue, took them away to a remote place to rest, pray and basically decompress. Later, he realized a crowd of believers followed them, desiring to be with Jesus and the apostles. They were seeking Jesus’ presence.  When do I seek time with Jesus? Do I respond to his invitation to come away and rest? Have I experienced a transformative moment and desired more time with Jesus? More conversation? More prayer?

“Give them food” 

Jesus did receive the crowds. He was fully present to them, speaking of the kingdom of God and healing those in need. Evening drew near. The apostles made Jesus aware of the urgency to send the crowds to find nearby shelter and food. But Jesus instead invited the apostles to “give them some food yourselves.” Of course, they had little: five loaves and two fish. This was certainly an inadequate supply to feed 5,000 people and the alternative was to purchase food. 

“Give them food,” St. John Paul II writes. “On this journey Jesus goes before us, with the gift of himself to the point of sacrifice and offers himself to us as nourishment and support. Indeed he does not cease to repeat to the pastors of the people of God in all the ages: “Give them something to eat;” break this bread of eternal life for everyone. A demanding and exalting task. A mission that lasts until the end of time.” (Homily, June 14, 2001).

Abundance forever

Jesus directs the disciples to seat the crowd. Then, as a way of preparing them for the Last Supper, Jesus takes, blesses and breaks the bread before them. It was more than enough, with the remaining food filling 12 wicker baskets, a reminder of the 12 tribes of Israel. “All ate and were satisfied.” This miracle anticipates what is to come in the Eucharist. 

We read here in the Gospel acclamation of this day, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever” (Jn 6:51). The multiplication of the loaves and fish points to the reality of Jesus, the living bread, who invites us to participate in his life in Eucharist. 

A real miracle happens at every Mass before our eyes. We have been celebrating this for more 2,000 years. We believe the bread and wine become the body and blood, soul and divinity of our Lord, Jesus Christ, as food for eternal life. What more could we desire than to share life abundantly with God for all eternity?

Transformation

As St. Paul writes, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes” (1 Cor 11:26). As we worthily receive Eucharist, we have a living encounter with Christ, which transforms us. St John Paul II, in Catechesis Tradendae (Oct. 6, 1979), writes, “In the sacraments, especially in the Eucharist, that 

Jesus works in fullness for the transformation of human beings.” By this living encounter we are in union with Jesus Christ. Eucharist preserves, increases and renews the life of grace. Eucharist separates us from sin and preserves us from future sin. Eucharist united us more closely to one another in Christ, as well as commits us to the poor (Catechism of The Catholic Church 1391-1398). This transformation enables believers to follow, to adore and to proclaim Jesus in the most Blessed Sacrament. We become authentic witnesses, one who introduces another to the mysteries, to a call to conversion, to transformation in Christ. In Eucharist, we encounter the real presence; we are transformed.

Eucharistic procession: Follow Jesus

And so, we follow Jesus, through private prayer, with our family, with our faith family at holy Mass and in eucharistic procession, benediction and adoration. An actual physical procession following Christ in the most holy Eucharist is a powerful experience. The solemnity of the most Holy Trinity invites the faithful to eucharistic procession as the priest lifts high the monstrance which holds the holy Eucharist, followed by the lay faithful, as a way of public devotion and proclamation “… carrying the body of Christ hidden in our hearts and clearly visible in the monstrance. We will accompany the bread of immortal life through the city streets. We will adore him and around him will be gathered the church, living monstrance of the savior of the world” (St. John Paul II homily, June 14, 2001).

Blessed Carols Acutis (1991-2006, Italy), one of the youngest saints of our lifetime, offered wonderful insights as he wrote, “The more Eucharist we receive, the more we will become like Jesus, so that on earth we will have a foretaste of heaven. By standing before the eucharistic Christ, we become holy. The Eucharist is the highway to heaven.” May we all process on this “highway to heaven” and be fully united with the blessed Trinity now and forever. Amen.

Note: Bishop Michael Duca will lead the faithful in eucharistic procession following the 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge on Sunday, June 19. All are welcome!

Dow is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.