A Sunday Thought to Start the Week Off Right
I just read an analysis of the current state of our society and culture. I also, around the same time, came upon Psalm 11 in my ongoing reading of Holy Scripture. You'll see the connection in a moment, along with the connection to today's Feast of Corpus Christi.
For centuries, the Catholic Church celebrated Corpus Christi on the Thursday after what we now call Trinity Sunday (last Sunday). These days it's been moved to the following Sunday - kind of like Ascension Thursday has been moved in many dioceses to the following Sunday. In any case, it's Corpus Christi today, Sunday, unless you follow the Church's traditional calendar. Either way, Corpus Christi is a glorious feast day specially devoted to the Body of Christ.
Rumor has it that Corpus Christi processions have been revived in some areas. These used to be de rigeur, a free and open expression of our Holy Faith; but that changed after the "hurricane" hit after Vatican II. Maybe the the revival Corpus Christi processions will pick up steam and Catholics will once again, en masse, process with their Risen Savior through the streets. We'll see.
Now for that connection between the state of our society and culture today, Psalm 11, and the Feast of Corpus Christi: We begin with Psalm 11. It's said that most of the Psalms were written a thousand years before Our Lord's birth. That makes Psalm 11 over 3,000 years old! Nevertheless, can you see the connection with our culture and society today?
For centuries, the Catholic Church celebrated Corpus Christi on the Thursday after what we now call Trinity Sunday (last Sunday). These days it's been moved to the following Sunday - kind of like Ascension Thursday has been moved in many dioceses to the following Sunday. In any case, it's Corpus Christi today, Sunday, unless you follow the Church's traditional calendar. Either way, Corpus Christi is a glorious feast day specially devoted to the Body of Christ.
Rumor has it that Corpus Christi processions have been revived in some areas. These used to be de rigeur, a free and open expression of our Holy Faith; but that changed after the "hurricane" hit after Vatican II. Maybe the the revival Corpus Christi processions will pick up steam and Catholics will once again, en masse, process with their Risen Savior through the streets. We'll see.
Now for that connection between the state of our society and culture today, Psalm 11, and the Feast of Corpus Christi: We begin with Psalm 11. It's said that most of the Psalms were written a thousand years before Our Lord's birth. That makes Psalm 11 over 3,000 years old! Nevertheless, can you see the connection with our culture and society today?
Save me, O Lord, for there is now no saint: truths are decayed from among the children of men. They have spoken vain things every one to his neighbour: with deceitful lips, and with a double heart they have spoken.
We no longer know that some things are true, some false; some actions right, some wrong. So many of us no longer practice our religion. We put ourselves and our desires for pleasure and wealth before God and His Ten Commandments. Our selfishness and our pride have run amok. Even many of our Catholic bishops and clergy no longer speak of the Truth, distinguish clearly between right and wrong, or hold to the traditions of our Catholic Faith. Psalm 11 shows us that it's all happened before. The solution it offers:
May the Lord destroy all deceitful lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things. Who have said: We will magnify our tongue; our lips are our own; who is Lord over us.
The cry of the Psalmist for God's response to rampant falsehood, evil, and those who lie, cheat, and steal - even murder the innocent - rings true today. But on Corpus Christi, we're reminded of God's response when the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity condescended to become a man in the Person of Jesus Christ. Rather than destroy, He sacrificed His Body and Blood for our sake. Today we recognize this response, this sacrifice of Jesus Christ in a specific manner. We express our devotion to that Body which was given for us.
Whether we participate in a procession, or simply attend Holy Mass and receive His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Holy Eucharist, let's all remember we receive that same Corpus Christi that was sacrificed for us on Calvary, and is sacrificed in an unbloody manner on all the altars around the world at Mass.
This is true, it is good, it is what we believe.
A blessed and happy Feast of Corpus Christi!
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