Friday, May 27, 2016

1Reflection for Sunday May 29, Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ; Luke 9:11b-17

Gospel: Luke 9:11b-17
Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed to be cured. As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said, "Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here." He said to them, "Give them some food yourselves." They replied, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people." Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Then he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty." They did so and made them all sit down. Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.
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Reflection:
On Christmas day of 2013 in Legnica Poland a Consecrated Host fell to the floor. It was subsequently picked up and placed in a container with water. Immediately after immersing it in water red stains appeared on the Consecrated Host.

Then-Bishop of Legnica, Stefan Cichy, created a group to monitor the host. In February 2014, a small fragment was placed on a corporal and underwent testing by various research institutes.

the fragments were found containing the fragmented parts of a muscle. Likely similar to the heart muscle.” Tests also determined the tissue to be of human origin, and found that it bore signs of distress.

This past January, saying that the Host “has the manifestation of a Eucharistic miracle. The current bishop, bishop Kiernikowski presented the matter to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Last April the Vatican/Holy See recommended that it should be venerated by the people. 

Today is the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, the same Body and Blood of Christ in the appearance of the Holy Host that fell to the floor On Christmas day of 2013 in Legnica Poland.

The same Body and Blood of Christ that we partake during Holy Communion at Holy Mass. The same Body and Blood of Christ that the sick receive in their house.  When it is brought to them by a priest or by an extra ordinary minister of the Holy Communion.   

Do we give the Body and Blood of Christ the proper respect and veneration when we partake of it? Do we see to it that we are worthy to receive it by humbly submitting ourselves to the Sacrament of Confession at least once a year? 

In the gospel, the crowd of about five thousand were hungry but there was no food to fill their empty stomachs. Except for the five loaves and two fish no other food was available and the disciples knew that it would not be enough to feed the hungry crowd.

However, Jesus asked for the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the crowd. And all of them were able to eat with many more to spare.

The miracle of the feeding of the crowd happened because Jesus desired it. Every time we make ourselves available for Holy Mass and we partake of His Body and Blood at Holy Communion, Jesus desires it for us as well. Why? This is for the reason of the infinite love and mercy of Jesus for all of us.

What have you done so far to reciprocate the infinite love and mercy of Jesus?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas     

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