Homily – Feast of Corpus Christi (C)

If we have a chance to visit the Church of the Multiplication in the Holy Land, located near the Sea of Galilee, we will find a mosaic artwork in the sanctuary of the church, in front of the altar, depicting the loaves and the fish.  This piece of art, believed to date back to the 5th century, was created to honour the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand.  However, there is a noticeable discrepancy between the content of this artwork and the Gospel account.  While the miracle story reports that there were five loaves and two fish, the mosaic image presents only four loaves and two fish.  This difference has led to various interpretations.  One interpretation, suggested by our tour guide when I visited with a pilgrimage group, was that the artist might have intended to invite observers to reflect on their own contribution to the Lord’s work in feeding the people of God – that they, the viewers, are to provide the fifth loaf in the basket.

This interpretation may not be overly exaggerated when we consider it in the broader context of this week’s second reading.  In the passage, Paul tells the people in Corinth that what he “received from the Lord, [he] also handed on to [them].”  What he passed on was the invitation to continually celebrate the Lord’s Supper: “On the same night that he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread, and thanked God for it and broke it, and he said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this as a memorial of me.’  In the same way, he took the cup after supper, and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood.  Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.’  Until the Lord comes, therefore, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming his death” (1 Corinthians 11:23–26).

However, before passing on this teaching, Paul points out the factions and divisions within the community.  There is evidence of social and economic distinctions – between the rich and the poor, between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots,’ between the advantaged and the disadvantaged: “When the time comes to eat, each of you goes ahead with your own supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk.”  For Paul, this is unacceptable, especially when it comes to the Lord’s Supper, which should embody unity.  He urges each person to examine themselves before coming to the table of the Lord: “Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves” (1 Corinthians 11:28–29).  Coming to the Lord’s table requires a re-examination of ourselves for the sake of unity in the Body of Christ.

Every now and then, we hear friends speak of the beauty of being able to attend the Eucharist comfortably while travelling around the world, despite language barriers.  This is encouraging, as it highlights the uniformity and unity in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.  We all share in the same Body and Blood of Christ, wherever we are.  Indeed, this unity is not limited to our local community; it connects us with people from all corners of the earth.  Moreover, this universal unity extends beyond food and material sharing – it includes peace, love, compassion, and mercy.

Each time we gather as a community, we are invited – just as Paul invited the people of Corinth – to examine how we live out the unity of the Body of Christ with all our sisters and brothers around the world.  In what way, we as a community, could contribute to the feeding of the people of God with food, with love, with hope and with mercy.  Only then, we would celebrate the Lord’s Supper with right and worthy manner. 

 As we witness the horrors of war across the globe, causing immense pain and suffering, let us unite in prayer that our world may be restored with peace and stability.

By Fr Sang Ho