Our Fellowship in the Body of Christ Transcends Intolerance

Craig Fernandes, a former seminarian at St. Augustine’s Seminary, is now an engineering Master’s student at the University of Toronto.

This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (more commonly known as Corpus Christi). The Eucharist is the hallmark of the Catholic believer, and saints throughout the centuries have emphasized its importance in the life of the Church.

A striking reality of the Eucharist is its power to unite us all as one. As St. Paul says, “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread” (1 Cor 10: 16-17). 

Even though we were unable to partake in the “one bread” over the past several weeks, we remember that the archdiocese’s priests offered Masses for our intentions throughout the church closures and realize that the grace of the sacrament still united us all during that difficult time. And with publicly celebrated Masses returning to our archdiocese next week, we look forward to being one with our fellow parishioners again soon. 

In the wake of current protests and conversations happening around the world about racism, violence and the dignity due to all people, St. Paul’s words hold even truer today. 

As Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, wrote in a recent statement: 

We must continue to remind ourselves daily to follow the example of Jesus to love one another as ourselves without exception. Racism knows no boundaries and it remains a present day challenge that must not be ignored. We join together in prayer for victims of racism, violence and intolerance and for those who are working peacefully to effect change.

On this Corpus Christi weekend, as we make what will hopefully be one of our final Spiritual Communions, let us do so with the knowledge that we are united to one another all over the world in a bond of fellowship and love.

A fellowship and love that knows no barrier, regardless of race or ethnicity. 

Summary

A striking reality of the Eucharist is its power to unite us all as “One Body.” Despite our inability to partake in the Eucharist over the past several week, we saw the archdiocese’s priests offering Mass for our intentions and realized that the grace of the sacrament continued to unite us all. This unity is especially timely considering the current protests and conversations happening around racism and the dignity due to all people. As we make what will hopefully be one of our final Spiritual Communions, we do so with the knowledge that we are united to Catholics all over the world in a bond of fellowship and love that transcends race, ethnicity, class or creed.

Readings:

• First Reading: Deuteronomy 8.2-3, 14-16
• Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10.16-17
• Gospel: John 6.51-59 – The Bread from Heaven