Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.
I studied Spanish in Guatemala for a period of three months. In this time it struck me that every time a person walked by a Church that they would make the sign of the cross. Why, but because there was an understanding that what was found inside of the Church was the presence of Christ. Christ made present to us in the Most Holy Eucharist.
Thus disposition of our body is most important because disposition of body serves as a reminder of that which is most important. In a recent talk given by Cardinal Sarah he reminded those present about the necessity of rediscovering proper disposition of body when we encounter the Eucharist.
In this talk he spoke about Pope John Paul II and how he always remained persistent that despite old age or his failing health to kneel in the presence of the Eucharist. He would settle for nothing less. He would thus kneel even though he could not get back up on his own and thus needed the assistance of others to do so.
We must remember that what we encounter here is not just some mundane action. Rather the Eucharist sets us apart from other faith traditions for the Eucharist is not a mere symbol of Christ, but is Christ Himself. Scripture tells us about the importance of disposition of body for it instructs in the Book of Romans: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.”
Thus for us to encounter the Eucharist is to come into an encounter with Jesus Christ for the Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ our Lord. Seeing that this is truly Jesus Christ who comes to dwell with us out of love our life must be changed by this encounter. What we encounter here is far different then what we encounter anywhere else within this world.
Therefore we enter into the Church and genuflect onto one knee for we know that whom we encounter here is Christ the King. Therefore we enter into the silence of prayer when we are present within the Church for the world is a place of noise, but the Church is a place to which we flock to bring silence into our life. Silence which joins us to coming to know Christ our Lord. Therefore we come forward and receive with great reverence our Blessed Lord.
Let us not rush past these actions as if we are in a hurry, but rather let us take on proper disposition of body out of acknowledgement of Christ who continues to dwell with us out of love. Rush not past a genuflection, but enter into it by joining your mind to Christ. Don't rush past the silence of this place in favor of noise, but rather allow the silencer thus Church to take you to Christ. Remember that in the midst of the busyness of this world it is always possible to stop by here and pay a visit to our Blessed Lord in our perpetual adoration chapel. Don't forget to make use of the Sacrament of Confession for here we come to encounter the mercy of our Lord’s which opens the way towards the Eucharist. Don’t rush into the reception of Holy Communion, but slow down and realize that He who we dare to receive is Christ our Lord.
Therefore may we come to practice proper disposition of Body in order that our hearts may come to dwell with Christ our Lord who dwells with us in the form of bread and wine which have been transformed into the Body, Soul, and Divinity of Christ our Lord.
