Sunday, June 6, 2021
Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Year B)
Listen for English
As dem dey chop, E take bread, pray blessing over am, break am, give dem, come talk say, “Take am; na My body be this.” Then E take one cup, give thanks, give dem, and all of dem drink from am. E tell dem say, “Na My blood of the covenant be this, wey dem go pour out for many people.” Mark 14:22–24
For holy Mass, as soon as the priest talk the words of consecration, wey dey change the bread and wine into the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ our Lord, e bend one knee touch ground, stand up, then talk say, “The mystery of faith.” Wetin be “the mystery of faith?” Many times, when we talk say something na mystery, we mean say the answer dey hidden, but some clues dey wey fit help us find the answer. Once we don solve the mystery, everything go clear, and e no go be mystery again.
“The mystery of faith” different well-well. Dem dey talk those words for Mass immediately after the consecration, to draw the faithful into holy fear and deep amazement at wetin just happen. But this mystery fit only bring iyanu and holy fear if we understand wetin really just happen through the gift of faith. Faith na to know and believe without using our five senses or logical reasoning to understand the reality wey dey before us. In other words, faith dey give us true knowledge of spiritual reality wey we fit only know, understand and believe through spiritual insight. So, if we attend Mass and we don receive the gift of the knowledge wey faith dey give, then as soon as the consecration of the bread and wine happen, we go cry out inside our heart, “My Lord and my God!” We go know say God the Son dey present before us in hidden way. Our eyes no dey see this great reality wey dey before us, and none of our senses dey reveal am to us. We no fit use reasoning alone work out wetin just happen. Instead, we come know and believe say the Son of God, the Saviour of the World, now dey present before us in all Im fullness, hidden under wetin appear to be ordinary bread and wine.
Apart from the divine presence of our Lord and our God, the whole Mystery of our Redemption dey become present too. Saint Pope John Paul II tell us say, for this moment, one “oneness for time” dey wey join the Paschal Mystery, that is, the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, to every moment wey dem celebrate the Eucharist and make am present through the words of consecration. And that unity between each Mass and the Paschal Mystery “dey lead us into deep amazement and thanksgiving” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, #5). You dey feel and experience this deep amazement and thanksgiving every time you attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? As you dey attend Mass and dem dey talk the words of consecration, you dey realise say the whole Mystery of your redemption dey become present before you, hidden from your eyes but visible to your soul through faith? You understand say na God the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity dey come down to us to stay with us for that moment for this glorious Sacrament?
Today, reflect on the Mystery of Faith wey dey hidden but wey real. Allow yourself enter into iyanu and holy fear because of wetin you get the privilege to attend. Make your faith in the Most Holy Eucharist grow as you open your heart for this gift of faith to deepen through spiritual insight and belief. Use the eyes of faith look this great Gift of the Eucharist, and you go enter into the iyanu and holy fear wey God want give you.
My Eucharistic Lord wey get glory forever, I truly believe say You dey here, present for our world under the form of bread and wine, every time dem celebrate Holy Mass. Fill me with deeper faith in this Holy Gift, my dear Lord, so that I go enter into iyanu and holy fear every time I witness this holy Consecration. Jesus, na You I trust.
Novena to the Sacred Heart
Dates for the Novena: June 2-10, 2021
June 11, 2021: Solemnity of the Sacred Heart
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Read More – Corpus Christi
Saint of the Day – Saint Norbert, Bishop—Optional Memorial
Dem no dey celebrate am as liturgical memorial this year because e fall on Sunday
Main picture above: The Last Supper wey Philippe de Champaigne paint, from Wikimedia Commons
