Eating right

The story is told about a man who was throwing knives at his best friend’s picture after they had a big quarrel, and every dagger was missing the target. Just then his friend called him to apologize, and asked him what he was doing.

“Just missing you!” he replied with a smile.

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Today is the Solemnity of the Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Christ. In today’s Gospel (Jn. 6, 51-58) Jesus tells the Jews to eat His body and drink His blood. That of course was taboo for them then, and even for us now, for that matter. Perhaps beyond the concept of cannibalism, we should see Jesus’ words as an invitation to be one with Him, and to become like Him.

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A lot of the Jews, and in fact a lot of Jesus’ followers left Him after He declared “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you.” And yet He did not back down on His words like many politicians or show-biz people do just to become acceptable or popular. For Jesus, truth is truth, and it is not conditioned by anything or by anyone.

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To become more and more like Jesus—this should be the focus of anyone who claims to be His follower. In other words, we become one with Him when we “think Jesus, talk Jesus, act Jesus.” “Eating His body and drinking His blood” means we bond with Him and we assimilate His very life and being. And yet, there are so-called “daily communicants” who receive His body and blood every day, but show no transformation in any way.

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There is a story about a saint who saw the Baby Jesus while the priest was giving communion. As people approached the priest to receive communion one by one, the Baby Jesus smiled to some, but with others He cried, depending perhaps on the worthiness of the communicant. The vision ended with the Baby Jesus looking with sad eyes at the congregation, more specifically at those who had not come to receive Him, as if saying “Missing you, it’s been a while.”

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The same perhaps could be said not only with those receiving Holy Communion, but also with the priest or lay ministers giving the Holy Communion. May we become more worthy dispensers of His grace and ministers of the sacraments. May St. Padre Pio who had such a deep devotion to the Holy Eucharist intercede for us for God’s mercy.

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“I eat Your body and drink Your blood. Let it not bring me condemnation but health of mind and body.” This is a silent prayer said by priests just before Holy Communion. It is a humble prayer that reminds us of the reality of our sinfulness on one hand, and of Jesus’ healing and constant love on the other hand.

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The recent rains and floods remind me of my mission trips as a young priest in La Paz, Abra, crossing rivers and climbing mountains to bring the Eucharist to the remotest villages, rain or shine. No place was too far because there was a community there waiting to be nourished by the Mass, or a sick person needing the healing and comfort of the Holy Eucharist.

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The recent rains and floods should remind us that we are one body in Christ. For those of you whose homes were not affected, did you at least feel with the less fortunate? Did you say a prayer for them? Better still, did you give some help or aid? Being one with Christ means being one with the people He loves.

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The recent flood should also prick the conscience of government officials who pocketed the funds meant for the people. Whenever people suffer around us, let us not thank God that we are not suffering like them, but should make us ask ourselves if we have not in one way or another contributed to their sufferings, and should move us to help alleviate their sufferings. To be one with Christ means to be one with His people, especially with those who are suffering.

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Speaking of food, let me share with you a text message about good food for the body and for the soul: “More grilled, less fried; more vinegar, less salt; more fruits, less sweets; chew more, eat less; more water, less soda; more deeds, less talk; more sharing, less desires; more walks, less rides; more laughter, less anger; more prayers, less worries.”

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“Negritos of the mountain, what kind of food do you eat?” This is a line of a song that was taught to us in school when we were children. Perhaps this question should be asked by each one of us. Are we eating the right kind of food, not only for our body, but also for our soul? Perhaps it would also be good for us to ask ourselves not only what we are eating, but what is eating us!

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, remind me to eat right not only for my body, but also for my soul. Amen.