First Reading
Corpus Christi-Cycle B-2009 Exodus 24:3-8

When Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all answered with one voice, “We will do everything that the LORD has told us.” Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and, rising early the next day, he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD, Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, “All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do.” Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of his.”

Second Reading
Hebrews 9:11-15

Brothers and sisters: When Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer’s ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God. For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant: since a death has taken place for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant, those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.

Gospel Cycle Cycle B
Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”‘ Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

This Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ repeats the celebration of Holy Thursday. We have completed the cycle of the Sacred Triduum we celebrated the institution of the Holy Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ. Today we are invited simply to meditate again on this incredible gift that God gives us: the very life, body and blood, soul and divinity, of His Son Jesus Christ.

Lots of us have never really experienced killing animals. Perhaps there are some hunters among us or some farmers. Today the majority of people grow up in urban settings. Meat comes to us packaged in the store. We cannot imagine killing bulls and putting that blood into large bowls and then sprinkling half of it on a large group of people. When we find a lot of blood in a large bowl, then we should know that the animal whose blood it is, is dead. We need our blood within our bodies in order to live. If we have ever experience a terrible accident in which the blood of a person is all over the ground, then we can have some idea of blood. If we have ever butchered an animal, we can have some idea of this meaning of blood.

Blood is so important to life! When we separate body and blood, we have death. When Jesus died, the soldier pierced His side and blood and water came out. These are clear signs of his death. Jesus gives His life so that we may have life. Only by accepting His sacrifice for us can we truly understand God’s love for us. God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son who dies so that we might live.

If Jesus dies for us, are we willing to die for one another. Am I willing to give my life blood so that others may live? The whole purpose of life is to live for others—this is what Jesus teaches us. The purpose of live is to give our lives up for others.

Why do we spend so much time trying to protect our own lives? Why do we seek to live at the expense of others? What is the meaning of my personal life?

In the Gospel of Mark which we hear today, we see the followers of Jesus preparing for the Last Supper. They follow the instructions of Jesus and everything turns out as He had told them. We are invited to follow Jesus as they did. We also can follow His work and know that everything will turn out as He has told us.

Let us celebrate this Holy Msss today as a true thanksgiving, a Eucharist in the deepest meaning of that word! Let us give thanks for the life of Jesus that is given to us when bread and wine become body and blood. With His life, we have life. With His gift to us we are invited to give our lives as gift to one another. You and I can change this world with the Lord Jesus. May our faith transform us and transform our world. Amen.