Mark 14:12-16: Preparation of the Dwelling Place
Corpus Christi Sunday, June 19, 2022
The Feast of Corpus Christi is a celebration of Christ’s presence in the world in a very special way. Today we read and reflect on how Jesus – he who is the son of the living God – prepares for and celebrates a day when God has saved us all. We might forget this easily unless we remind ourselves often that we need not struggle with the world. Our only struggle is with our own stubbornness or willfulness when we refuse to hand over our suffering to God.
Some of us think of our meeting with God as taking place in some foggy future just after we die; there are many stories, novels, plays, films and poetry about how we humans shed our mortal skin and meet with our creator to make an accounting of all that we have done – or not done – on earth. We forget that God is with us constantly, seeing all that we do, available for a conversation, able to give advice, loving us into goodness. We ought not hesitate in preparing a chair for God, a bed for Jesus, a meal or conversation to share with the Spirit.
Everything we have heard about the story of our salvation is good news; yet we hesitate to believe.
Everything we have seen about the story of our rescue is about our new freedom; yet we hesitate to hope.
Everything we have known about the living presence of the Christ is immediate and irrefutable; yet we hesitate to join God in this union of love.
We must prepare a place today in which we can find Christ and spend time with him in an honest, authentic dialog about both our worries and joys. If we have a special place where we find God’s presence readily, let us remain a few moments longer than usual . . . and let us thank Christ for the gift of mystery that keeps us close and questioning. Let us thank God for the gift of life that brings us eternal peace. And let us determine more than ever to live as fully as we might in the Spirit. For all of this, let us prepare ourselves to accept this miracle of Corpus Christi, this mysterious, wonderful, singular dwelling place where for each of us in our own time and in our own way . . . body and spirit are one.
Tomorrow we continue our reflections on mystery with The Mystery of Resurrection.
Image from: http://stjohnscathedral.ca/?attachment_id=8817
Adapted from a reflection written on May 10, 2010.
The Noontimes 