A Sacred Antidote

A Reflection on the Gospel for June 14th, 2020:
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

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​JOHN 6

51I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh." 52The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" 53So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; 54he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. 58This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever."
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Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

​I have an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases cause the body to mistake its own cells for harmful ones, causing it to launch an attack on itself.
 
It struck me this week that sin can be likened to a spiritual autoimmune disease. We fail to recognize our own. In misplaced defense, we attack our own flesh, inflicting sometimes lethal and systemic wounds.
 
George Floyd’s death exacerbated our pre-existing disease of racism. It became the epicentre of a massive spiritual autoimmune attack on the body of Christ. The body responded instinctively and explosively to the violation of one of its own by another. Its reaction, at best, has demonstrated righteous anger; at worst — riot and violence — a seemingly all-out war on itself. 
 
Like Floyd’s last words, witnessing it all has taken my breath away. I sense the weight of these wounds and so many others. I feel the angry rash of frustration. Injustice has incited in me a visceral reaction.
 
Jesus knows — left to ourselves, sin will destroy us, and no member is left unaffected.
 
“Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life within you.”
 
I hear Him saying: Consume Me — lest you consume yourselves unto death.
 
Sadly, attempts to eradicate racism have made modest progress and have failed to provide a complete cure. But this Jesus, He is the divine physician! His body and blood are a sacred antidote. He offers them freely and willingly. They provide our salvation and unification.
 
Will I submit to the doctor's treatment? Do I believe His flesh is the prescription for what ails us? When He says, he who eats me will live because of Me, do I trust that this directive remains active and true today, in this time and place, in our communities and our hearts?
 
My Jesus, our salvation is found on the cross! The breaking of Your body and spilling of Your blood makes reconciliation of sin and healing of wounds possible. 
 
My Jesus, you unite us together in Your body! Consuming You, we are One. In You, my neighbor and I are equal; I am theirs and they are mine. I am joined with them in the gift of Your dignity and worth. Your love transforms my heart to see humanity as You do.
 
My Jesus! How I long to consume You! How deeply You wish to be consumed! All remedy belongs to You alone. As we work toward a more just society, do not fail to draw close to us in the flesh! Do not delay in treating the disease that afflicts us! 




Michelynne Gomez

Photo by Aliyah Jamous on Unsplash

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