Feast of Blood and Body of Christ. Cycle A. Saturday (6, 8:30) 28,29/05/2005

My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In last Thursday’s newspapers, there is an article on the front pages: A boy with the heart of a man. That was a story of a young17 year old boy named Scott Murray. He is one of the youngest heart-transplant patients. Scott was diagnosed with a heart murmur when he was seven days old. And Doctors at Auckland’s Green lane hospital discovered the arteries and chambers in his heart were around the wrong way. He was put on drugs and had a series of operations from the age of nine months. By the time he turned 10 he was told he would need a transplant, probably when he was 30. But he continued to deteriorate. The chambers of his heart did not pump properly and his body struggled to get rid of excess fluid. “I had basically no colour in my face, always blue in the lips. I did not have as much energy as I have now. I could not play any sport or anything. I wasn’t even able to walk to my friends’ place. It was kind of hard.’ Scott said. Scott would wake up in the morning so puffy from fluid he could not open his eyes. His legs would be so swollen he could not walk, Mrs. Murray Said. Finally, Scott received a new heart last July and has gone from strength to strength, recently conquering a three kilometre cross-country run- something not dreamed of a year ago. One problem is that no one knows how long the new heart will last. The Dominion Post Thursday May 26, 2005.

My dear brothers and sisters, this story tells us two significant messages. First and most importance is the invaluable gift of a donor. If people were not willing to donate their organs, then it would not be so easy for Scott and many other sick people who need organs transplants to have a better life. They would endure a great deal of suffering and struggle. But people have made their life different. People, who are, with great willingness and generosity, giving up their own life in some cases, to donate their organs for others, are great people and must be acknowledged and recognized by everyone. They must be proud of themselves; for they have not saved one life but there are many whose lives they have touched. There would be no words to express enough gratitude about this generous act of these donors.

The second message of this story for us is about life. Life is so precious to everyone and having a life is a blessing. Life has so much to give here. Thus, finding a way to maintain and to support life is our priority. There is nothing more important than to preserve life. That would be a great honour and great contribution if we were involved to make our life become better. That’s why we honour and respect Scientists, doctors, nurses who are working very hard in their field to protect and to expand the life of everyone.

My dear brothers and sisters, today we celebrate the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. This is a great feast in our church and in our life. For the feast, it reminds us of the main message that is the love of God for us. Jesus, the Son of God, loves us so much, that he died for us. God has totally given himself for us. The love of God did not stop at his death, but he continues to show his love by giving his own body and blood in the sacrament of eucharist, so that every time when we gather to celebrate it, Jesus is remembered and his presence and his love is again present among us. The symbols of bread and wine in the mass are the most sacred and the great revelation of the presence of God for us. How much more can we say about his love for us? Can we understand and feel God’s love for us today at this moment?

Jesus is the donor and the one who loves life. He gives us his heart, his body and blood. He sacrifices himself so that we can have a life to the full and last forever. Celebrating the feast of body and blood of Christ today let us not to forget the love of God for us and the presence of God in the Eucharist. And let us not forget his promises to us; if we receive his body and blood, we shall live forever. Let us open our heart to take his heart in us and let his love nourish us and make us strong in faith and trust in God. May the Lord be with you and bless you always. Amen.