by Deacon Tom White
Sunday, May 29, was the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), and GS parishioners participated in our annual procession. (The procession is in Spanish, with English translations provided.) Parishioners walk from Mount Vernon High School to the church, stopping along the way for reflection, prayer, and singing. The theme for this year's procession was "The Corporal Works of Mercy." This blog post is one of the reflections offered during this year's procession.
Lord, when our first parents - Adam and Eve - sinned against you, sickness of mind, body, and spirit entered your perfect creation. Then you sent your Son, Jesus, to come into that same world to destroy the power of death and to provide us divine nourishment to feed and heal our souls. In that same outpouring of love, your Son commanded that those who love Him, love one another.
An expression of that love is mercy, and in that merciful love we are empowered to minister to our sisters and brothers who are sick in mind, body, and spirit. We are called to console, be compassionate, be loving with those who are struggling with physical and mental illness. We are called as disciples of the Body of Christ to share the Good News of your love and forgiveness for those who are sick in spirit.
In this celebration of Corpus Christi, we boldly proclaim to the world our belief in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. We also proclaim that same Jesus lives within each one of us who are baptized into His Body, the Church. In the Holy Eucharist, we receive the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ, whom we carry in procession in this monstrance. Because we have consumed our Lord in the Eucharist, we carry Him into our world every day. We are living monstrances radiating the love of our Lord to everyone we come in contact with, especially those who need to experience our Lord's mercy and love through us. Let the consuming fire of God's love purify us so that we can now be used to reveal His presence to a world waiting to be born anew.
So, Lord Jesus, we pray:
In this celebration of Corpus Christi, we boldly proclaim to the world our belief in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. We also proclaim that same Jesus lives within each one of us who are baptized into His Body, the Church. In the Holy Eucharist, we receive the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ, whom we carry in procession in this monstrance. Because we have consumed our Lord in the Eucharist, we carry Him into our world every day. We are living monstrances radiating the love of our Lord to everyone we come in contact with, especially those who need to experience our Lord's mercy and love through us. Let the consuming fire of God's love purify us so that we can now be used to reveal His presence to a world waiting to be born anew.
So, Lord Jesus, we pray:
- may your Real Presence on this day and all days to come empower us to be living monstrances to the world,
- we pray that in your infinite love and mercy that you close wounds, cure illness, make broken bodies whole and heal troubled souls,
- may those who doubt your Presence in our world, open their hearts to see the goodness, mercy, compassion, and love that we, your disciples, manifest to the world through the actions of our daily lives,
- help us to be your voice, eyes, ears, and hearts when we visit those who are sick in mind, body, and spirit.
 | Deacon Tom White Good Shepherd Catholic Church tgwhite@aol.com |
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