Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Deacon Tom Vert
Preached: July 22, 025
Sometimes, during the Eucharistic prayer or in the readings we hear “do this in memory of me” and sometimes it is “do this in remembrance of me”, depending on the English translation.
Which one is right? Does it matter?
When I think of memories, I think of those major moments in my life that I will never forget.
I think of my wedding day and Carmela walking up the aisle.
I think of the birth of my two daughters and the moment I almost fainted when one of them was weak just after the birth with jaundice.
I think of my ordination day and lying on the floor dedicating my life to God in a special way with His grace to support me.
These are memories, glimpses of the past that are recalled.
But remembrance is different. Remembrance is the better English translation of the word ‘anamnesis’ in Greek, and it means to remember, but also to make present in the here and now and to act upon this memory.
Memories are passive, whereby remembrance is a word of action.
“Do this in remembrance of me” is what we heard at the Last Supper and is repeated in the reading to the Corinthians today.
Just before this, Paul is upset with the people of Corinth for coming together for a feast and some getting drunk and some getting no food, instead of sharing the Lord’s Supper properly.
He wrote the letter to remind them of exactly what the Lord’s Supper is, and when it is celebrated what does it mean.
He reminds them that it is a community event in which we come together as the people of God, and we are to receive the body and blood of Christ from the altar table not as individuals but as the people of God.
Deacon Tom, that sounds interesting in history, but is that all there is to remembrance?
No, you are right to ask, there is so much more!
Each time we celebrate the Eucharist the priest in some form will say in the Eucharistic prayer an anamnesis or remembrance of the entire saving event: “as we celebrate the memorial of the saving Passion of your Son, his wondrous Resurrection and Ascension into heaven.”
So, we are not just recalling and acting on the Last Supper, but on the entire life of Christ!
In the Eucharist we celebrate we are called to remember Jesus’ life on earth, and then to imitate it in our own lives to become more Christ-like each day!
Today’s readings remind us that Christ’s life we celebrate was not just the 33 years he was physically here, but the entire past and future of his relationship with us.
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.”
We proclaim this by being a living witness to the faith in our daily life!
The three gospels Matthew, Mark and Luke all have a similar account of the Last Supper, but if we also remember John focuses on what to do next.
John tells the story we hear on Holy Thursday on the washing of the disciples feet, and at the end he stands up and says to them “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
We need to go out and proclaim the gospel in our family, our workplace, the hockey rink, the soccer field and anywhere else we go!
This is how we are to be in remembrance!
Remembering is not just recalling, but it is contemplating and then acting upon!
We see this in the gospel story of the feeding of the five thousand. What does Jesus say to his disciples “Give them some food yourselves!”
He didn’t mean to multiply the fishes and loaves themselves, but he did mean that they were to go out and use their talents to the benefit of the whole community. Take care of one another especially those most in need.
When Jesus calls us to imitate him and follow his example, he wants us to do it in all aspects of our lives!
To be merciful and not judgmental like with the woman caught in adultery.
To reach out and to touch the lonely with a visit, the poor with a smile and a hand up, and those separated to us with forgiveness.
This task sounds very daunting, how are we to do it?
The great news is that we do not have to do it alone, Christ left us Corpus Christi, the sacrament of the Eucharist and we receive Him truly present as food for the journey as food for the journey, it is our medicine, our energy, and our strength for the week ahead, when we come up and receive the host.
So, today, after we receive Holy Communion, when you go back to your pew, ask yourself one question, will this be a memory or will it be a remembrance?
