My grandmother was fond of saying you are what you eat. I often found that funny since I love chocolate chip cookies. Grandma was a rather brilliant theologian as I think back on her wisdom and wit. She saw and experienced the presence of God in the so-called “ordinary” things and events of life.  

 

During these days of pondering and celebrating the “Body and Blood of Christ,” we cannot help but think of how much that Body is suffering. A few days ago, the Administration of the United States reversed a former Executive Order protecting certain forms of Wildlife. It is now permissible to kill animals for sport and trophy simply because it may be your desire. This breaks my heart. The Liturgy and the New Testament witness to the solidarity the Risen One enjoys with the beauty and splendor of creation. Now that wounded Body will hurt all the more.

 

We cannot help but think of all the immigrant children and their families and relatives who suffer separation, deportation, and possible death. These are our sisters and brothers in Christ. They are members of our one human family. When they suffer and die, we suffer and die. They are the Body of Christ whose Blood we need to cherish. If they are lost, we are wounded.

 

We cannot help but think of the people marching in the streets witnessing to a new consciousness. As the Liturgy of the Church proclaims, we are but one human family. Together we live and move and have our very being in the presence of God. We are no less than the Body of Christ whose Blood must be held precious. There are many gifts in this one Body and those gifts are you, each and everyone.

 

So, if you are on the verge of birth or the threshold of death, precious are you. If you are from here or there, or look like this or that, precious are you. If you are old or young, delicate or robust, rich or poor, precious are you. If you are failed or successful, afraid or courageous, certain or uncertain, precious are you. If you are you, precious are you. Together we are the Body of Christ whose Blood is sacred. Nonetheless, remember the Body of Christ is always ascending, always growing, always surprising in every flower that grows, every bird that sings, every child who laughs, every person who cries, and everyone you will ever meet.  

 

Many of us come to the Table of Christ’s generous self-giving to be nourished by the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation. May we become what we eat and be transformed by what we drink.

 

Thank you, Holy Community, for being the loving presence of Jesus in this World.