The Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ | Sunday 19 June 2022

Today is Sunday the 19th June, the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

The Porter’s Gate sing, ‘Hallelujah Sing’. As we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi today, can you let this song help you remember a special moment you have encountered in taking the Eucharist? Let yourself relive that moment now…

Come now, dear ones, all are welcome
At this table, receive the bread and wine
Bring your sadness, anxious madness
Weakness, secrets, your loneliness
Hallelujah sing a song of peace to me
Hallelujah sing this unhidden melody
Hallelujah sing in all souls residing
Hallelujah sing Your light, what joy it brings
Hallelujah sing
Hallelujah sing
Come find shelter, breathe and rest here
Comfort and peace from burdens you bear
Hallelujah sing
Hallelujah sing a song of peace to me
Hallelujah sing this unhidden melody
Hallelujah sing in all souls residing
Hallelujah sing Your light, what joy it brings
Hallelujah sing
Hallelujah sing
Take this bread, drink this cup with me
Take this bread, drink this cup with me (Ha-lle-lu-jah)
Take this bread, drink this cup with me (Ha-lle-lu-jah)
Take this bread, drink this cup with me (Ha-lle-lu-jah)
Take this bread, drink this cup with me (Ha-lle-lu-jah)
Take this bread, drink this cup with me (Ha-lle-lu-jah)
Take this bread, drink this cup with me
Won't you drink this cup with me?
Take this bread, drink this cup with me
Hallelujah sing

Today’s reading is from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians.

1 Cor 11:23-26

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

St Paul is handing over what he has received from the Lord to the people of Corinth.

Even though we are generations down the line, you might like to imagine yourself as a member of the church in Corinth, receiving this for the first time…what is it like? Perhaps a bit strange! Intriguing maybe… what do you notice?

Imagine now that you are sitting at the Passover supper table with Jesus and his disciples on the night when Jesus was to be betrayed.

Have a look around the upper room. What do you notice?

What is the atmosphere like?

Now look to Jesus’ hands as he takes a loaf then breaks it, and says, ‘This is my body that is for you.’

He hands you a piece of the broken bread.

Now watch him pass the cup of wine to you, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood.’

You drink from the cup.

What is it like to share this meal with Jesus and those gathered around the table? Become present to this meal as you listen to the reading a second time…

On this, the feast of Corpus Christi, take a moment to give thanks to God for this wonderful gift given to us…

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.