The Goodness of the Lord

Corpus Christi
June 7, 2015

Lord, you have given your people the food of angels, from heaven untiringly sending them bread already prepared, containing every delight, satisfying every taste.

First reading                                      Exodus 24:3-8

Moses went and told the people all the commands of the Lord and all the ordinances. In answer, all the people said with one voice, ‘We will observe all the commands that the Lord has decreed.’ Moses put all the commands of the Lord into writing, and early next morning he built an altar at the foot of the mountain, with twelve standing-stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he directed certain young Israelites to offer holocausts and to immolate bullocks to the Lord as communion sacrifices. Half of the blood Moses took up and put into basins, the other half he cast on the altar. And taking the Book of the Covenant he read it to the listening people, and they said, ‘We will observe all that the Lord has decreed; we will obey.’ Then Moses took the blood and cast it towards the people. This’ he said ‘is the blood of the Covenant that the Lord has made with you, containing all these rules.’

Psalm                                               Psalm 115:12-13,15-18

Second reading                               Hebrews 9:11-15

Now Christ has come, as the high priest of all the blessings which were to come. He has passed through the greater, the more perfect tent, which is better than the one made by men’s hands because it is not of this created order; and he has entered the sanctuary once and for all, taking with him not the blood of goats and bull calves, but his own blood, having won an eternal redemption for us. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer are sprinkled on those who have incurred defilement and they restore the holiness of their outward lives; how much more effectively the blood of Christ, who offered himself as the perfect sacrifice to God through the eternal Spirit, can purify our inner self from dead actions so that we do our service to the living God.
  He brings a new covenant, as the mediator, only so that the people who were called to an eternal inheritance may actually receive what was promised: his death took place to cancel the sins that infringed the earlier covenant.

Gospel                                        Mark 14:12-16,22-26

On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was sacrificed, his disciples said to Jesus, ‘Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the passover?’ So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the city and you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him, and say to the owner of the house which he enters, “The Master says: Where is my dining room in which I can eat the passover with my disciples?” He will show you a large upper room furnished with couches, all prepared. Make the preparations for us there,’ The disciples set out and went to the city and found everything as he had told them, and prepared the Passover.
  And as they were eating he took some bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to them. ‘Take it,’ he said ‘this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had returned thanks he gave it to them, and all drank from it, and he said to them, ‘This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many. I tell you solemnly, I shall not drink any more wine until the day I drink the new wine in the kingdom of God.’
  After psalms had been sung they left for the Mount of Olives.

Reflection

By Fely C Santiago

“How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the GOOD He has done for me?”

God is good all the time!  All the time God is good!

Sometimes I wonder what I might say if I were to meet the Lord in person. I think I might say "Thank You Lord" for always being there for me. I want to thank the Lord for everything He has done in my life. I cannot return all the goodness He has showered in my life. I know I cannot thank Him enough. I am nothing. God is everything.  He planted big dreams in my heart. I am now living these dreams. I can now see how God’s Hands are really at work.   Miracles happen everyday.  There are many surprises and explosive blessings everyday. I cannot thank the Lord enough for the many scandalous graces I receive but really do not deserve.  We truly have an amazing and awesome God! I also know with certainty there were times when the Lord carried me. When it was through His strength I got through the dark times in my life. I can now see after all these years how the Lord molded me, shaped me, twisted me, stretched me, to become the person that I am today.  I want to thank the Lord for His goodness even for the many trials and challenges that came my way -- all the frustrations, disappointments, failures, mistakes, rejections. They have made me a better Christian. God allowed these things to happen to build  my character. I am getting better and better because of the goodness of God. Yet I am a work in progress.

Today as we also remember the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ,  God has made known His commitment to us very clearly. Let us also renew our commitment to Him. Know Him more clearly by listening to His words in the Bible, through the Holy Spirit that speaks to us, in the people we meet everyday. See Him in every circumstance whether we walk in the dark valley or greet the morning sunshine. Pray without ceasing, converse with God at all times in every area of our lives, upon waking up, while brushing our teeth, cooking, eating, driving to work, in a meeting. Let us also renew our commitment to love God more and serve Him more in the people that come our way. It is not an accident when we meet someone. It is always a Divine appointment. There is always a purpose. The Lord has given His life to us. We really cannot return all the goodness of the Lord. We just have to stay in faith, to trust, to honor God and to obey His will because He always have the BEST for us. All things happen for good.

God is GOOD!

Prayer

Our loving and faithful God, thank You for all Your goodness. I really cannot thank You enough for all the unconditional love You give me everyday. Thank You for all the dreams You planted in my heart. Thank You for giving me hope. Hold my heart close and sing Your love to me so my doubts and fears are cast away.   In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.