Corpus Christi

Words are easy and cheap. People can say anything and everything under the sun or moon, but what they say would be mere words, if there is no action. For example, a person can say: "I love you." But does the person really mean what he or she says? After all, we hear the words "I love you" in so many places, such as in advertisements, on TV, in the cinemas, that the words seem to lose their meaning or significance. That is why, for many of us, we do not only want to hear such words, we want proof of action. Only through action can we come to believe or be convinced that someone really loves us.

Today we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi. Today we remember Jesus' promise that He loves us. His promise is not merely words, but is shown in His action. Jesus proves His love for us by giving us His own body and blood, by sacrificing his own life for us to save us from our sins. Every time we come to receive the body of Jesus at Mass; every time we come to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, we are acting out our belief that we are important, we are special, we are loved by God.

But sometimes, some of us may have taken for granted God's tremendous love for us. Some of us may have not prepared well for Mass, by going for confession, by observing the one hour fast prior to receiving Holy Communion, by spending time in prayer and reflection, by dressing in our Sunday best. Some of us just come to church and receive Holy Communion just like that, without ensuring that we are clean and well prepared, both physically and spiritually. If we go to meet a king or royalty or some VIP (Very Important Person) for an official dinner or an official function, surely we would prepare ourselves to make a good impression and to show that we have good manners and proper upbringing. What about Mass then? Do we do the same?

Today, let us be thankful and grateful that God loves us so much. God loved the world so much that He gave us His only Son so that all who believe in Him may have eternal life. Jesus loves us so much that He offers us His Body and Blood, each and every time we receive Holy Communion at Mass. May we show our love, by being well prepared, and by being genuine in our love towards others.