Saturday in the Twenty-Third Week of Ordinary Time

“Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one Body, for we all partake of the one loaf” (1 Cor.10:17). All who partake of the One Bread that was blessed and broken for the salvation of the world are made one in Christ. All who drink from the Cup are immersed in the Blood of Christ, which was shed for the life of the world. All who are guests at the Banquet of the Lamb are mystically bound to the Risen and glorified Lord. Those who are united to Christ by sharing His Body and Blood are bound to each other. As the members of the congregation receive communion, Jesus’ prayer to the Father is answered. “May they all be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (Jn. 17:21).

When you come forward to partake of the Sacred Banquet, keep this thought in your mind. The Lord whom the heavens cannot contain is placed in your hand or on your tongue, body, blood, soul, and divinity. He who became man so he could walk with us wants us to accompany each other throughout our life’s journey. The host may dissolve, but the Lord of hosts does not. Consider these words from the Letter to the Hebrews. “Jesus Christ is eternally changeless, yesterday, today and for ages of ages” (Heb. 13:8). Through our participation in the Blessed Eucharist, our hearts become God’s sanctuary and our souls his dwelling place. He chooses to dwell within us so that everything we do might glorify him. Christ dwells within us so that we might cooperate with Him in restoring the human race.

Verse 1:
What shall I render unto God for all His blessings?
What shall I render, what shall I give?

Verse 2:
All I can render is my body and my soul.
That’s all I can render, that’s all I can give.

Chorus:
God has everything.
Everything belongs to Him.
( Vanessa Bell-Armstrong)