giovedì 4 giugno 2026

Reinvigorated by the food that God gives us, let us bring Jesus to the hearts of all (Pope Leo XIV)

Corpus Domini - Year A - June 07, 2026

 

Roman Rite

Dt 8, 2-3, 14-16; Ps 147; 1 Cor 10: 16-17; Jn 6.51-58

Ambrosian Rite

Dt 8, 2-3. 14b-16a; Ps 147; 1 Cor 10: 16-17; Jn 6: 51-58

 

1) Amazement for an immense gift.

Last Sunday we celebrated the feast of the Most Holy Trinity, mystery of Love inexhaustible that is source of Life incessantly given and communicated and that makes us His dwelling where everything finds God, listens to God, whispers to God, hopes and loves God. “God is love: for this reason, He is Trinity ... Love supposes one who loves, what is loved and the love itself” (St. Augustine, De Trinitate, VIII, 10, 14). The father is, in the Trinity, the one who loves, the source and the principle of everything; The Son is the one who is loved; the Holy Spirit is the love with which they love. 

Today, solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ or Corpus Domini as it is still called, we are invited to celebrate in wonder the mystery of the true presence in the Eucharist of the Lord who gives us the food and drink of heaven to feed our earthly life and to face the path to heavenly life. Offering himself entirely, the Risen Crucified gives himself to us, who thus discover that we are made to feed ourselves on God. Our hungry nature bears the mark of an indigence that is satisfied by the grace of the Eucharist. As St. Augustine writes, Christ is truly “panis qui reficit et non deficit; panis qui sumi potest, consumi non potest” (Sermon 130, 2): a bread that nourishes and does not fail; a bread that can be eaten but cannot be exhausted” (Pope Leo XIV, Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, June  22, 2025).

Today, the Church not only celebrates the Eucharist but takes it solemnly in procession. What the Redeemer has given us in the intimacy of the Cenacle, today we manifest openly because the love of Christ is not reserved to some but is destined for all.

Today, we publicly announce that the Sacrifice of Christ is for the salvation of the whole world. This is not the case only for the past. The fact that God loved men to such a degree as to send his own Son to redeem them from their miserable condition, is not a past event to regret as if now concluded. On the contrary, it is poured into the present. That love is present, alive and working today in an amazing way.

Today, the Church invites us to enter with wonder into this "mystery of faith," which the priest, each time he celebrates Mass, summarizes with the ineffable words of Jesus in: "Take and eat, this is my body. Take and drink this is my chalice of my blood. Do this in memory of Me "(Lk 22, 16). 

In his encyclical on the Eucharist John Paul II described this amazement: "When I think of the Eucharist, and look at my life as a priest, as a Bishop and as the Successor of Peter, I naturally recall the many times and places in which I was able to celebrate it. I remember the parish church of Niegowić, where I had my first pastoral assignment, the collegiate church of Saint Florian in Krakow, Wawel Cathedral, and Saint Peter's Basilica and …in chapels built along mountain paths, on lakeshores and seacoasts; I have celebrated it on altars built in stadiums and in city squares. This varied scenario of celebrations of the Eucharist has given me a powerful experience of its universal and, so to speak, cosmic character. Yes, cosmic! Because even when it is celebrated on the humble altar of a country church, the Eucharist is always in some way celebrated on the altar of the world. It unites heaven and earth. It embraces and permeates all creation. The Son of God became man in order to restore all creation, in one supreme act of praise, to the One who made it from nothing… Truly this is the mysterium fidei which is accomplished in the Eucharist: the world which came forth from the hands of God the Creator now returns to him redeemed by Christ."(Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia, no. 8).

 In the Mass and for the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist, each of us must live the same wonder, joy and gratitude spoken of by St John Paul II in the passage I have just quoted.

Let us worship before this great and merciful Mystery. Christ could not do more for us. Indeed, in the Eucharist, the Redeemer shows us a love that goes to the "extreme" (see Jn 13: 1), a love that knows no measure and no borders.

 This aspect of the universal charity of the Eucharistic Sacrament is based on the very words of the Redeemer. Establishing it, he did not just say "This is my body", "this is my blood", but he added "given to you ... poured out for you" (Lk 22: 19-20). He did not only say that what he gave them to eat and drink was his body and his blood, but he also expressed his sacrificial value, making sacramentally present his sacrifice that, a few hours later, would take place on the Cross for the salvation of all.

 

2) Begging for the Crucified Body of Christ.

In the Eucharist, Jesus is present not as a thing, but as a Person, that is, as an "I” that gives himself to a "you", who begs for him.

When we receive Communion, we stretch our hand to receive the Lord of Life. We are, therefore, beggars who tend to seek the love of the Bread of eternal life. We recognize that we are poor who receive everything. Indeed, we receive the Everything, which is not something but Someone, who gives himself to us. Receiving the Bread of Life is the communion of people. We meet Christ, and His Heart speaks to our hearts. 

In this Eucharistic meeting, the Redeemer not only speaks to us but acts: "It is Christ who works there, who is on the altar. It is a gift of Christ, who is made present and gathers us around him to feed us with his Word and his life. Through the Eucharist, Christ wants to enter our existence and permeate it with his grace. Therefore, let us live the Eucharist with a spirit of faith, prayer, forgiveness, penitence, community, joy, and concern for the needy and the needs of many brothers and sisters in the certainty that the Lord will do what he has promised us: eternal life "(Pope Francis). Life is the love affair with the Father who gives it and with the brothers who are his children like you. This is already eternal life. It is the life of God, and that is what Jesus wants to communicate to us.

Through the Eucharist, a relationship of full communion exists between Jesus and us so that we can experience the God who so loved the world to give his Son for it. "Eat the living bread ... eat the body ...” eat the meat, eat love, and eat God: everything is extremely concrete and everything is of infinite density. Eat the incarnate Love of God so that God may continue to incarnate and the flesh of man may experience the life of God. May the love of man become the Love of God, may his glory shine. Everything is God and everything is so concretely human. Everything is amazing: everything requires "only" the courage to believe the infinite "Love" of God in the darkness of the Cross of Jesus.

            The Host is closely linked to the Cross. "In the Eucharist, Christ always reapplies the self-giving that he did on the Cross. All his life is an act of total self-sharing for love "(Pope Francis). 

The Eucharist is the Sacrament of the Passion and Death of Christ par excellence. Jesus instituted it in one "excess" of love, on the night when he was betrayed, when, after blessing and breaking the bread and the wine, he distributed them to the Apostles saying, "Do this in memory of me." The Holy Mass mystically renews the death of Christ and proclaims the Resurrection in the waiting for of His coming.

            However, it must be remembered that the sacrifice of Christ is a sacrifice of communion and praise. 

Already in the Old Testament, among the various types of sacrifices, there was the one called "sacrifice of communion "or" offer of peace " because it wanted to express the union between God and the donor through a thank you offer. The victim was divided among God, the priest and the one who was making the offer. The part destined for God was burned on the altar. The faithful ate before Yahweh, almost in his company. It was the sacrificial meal in which a spiritual communion was established, an alliance between Yahweh and the one who was offering the sacrifice. It is clear here the idea of "eating at the Lord's table" as his dinner companions.

In the Mass, thanksgiving is the most significant aspect and surprisingly is done right from the start. We notice that Jesus, even before resurrecting Lazarus, raised his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you for listening to me "(Jn 11:41). He gives thanks before doing the miracle, sure that the Father will do it.

Turning his own death into a sacrifice of thanksgiving, Jesus makes us understand that for him the Passion is a gift from the Father, and his glorification (see Jn 12: 28-33; 13: 31-32). Death itself is transformed into victory; Jesus wins death with death; His death becomes sacrifice of thanksgiving.

The Sunday and daily Eucharist should have the effect of transforming the whole life into an everlasting sacrifice of thanksgiving through Christ, making us live every event as a gift. I say it should, because we often participate with distraction, by habit, with pretention or for vanity. The Eucharist is a gift of mercy that we can receive after having asked for forgiveness and said "Lord, I am not worthy to attend your table; but give only one word and I will be saved.”

The Church has chosen, as the last moment in preparation for the reception of the Eucharist, to repeat the words of the Roman centurion of Capernaum when he asked Jesus to heal his faithful servant paralyzed and suffering: "Lord, I am not worthy that you enter under my roof, but say only one word, and my servant shall be healed "(Mt 8: 8). The attitude of extreme humility and deep confidence that characterizes the demand of this pagan officer when requesting the salvific intervention of Christ in his home, - a true profession of faith -, must be the attitude of all of us, priests and faithful alike (these words must be said by the priest together with the faithful) as we are about to receive the Lord in our hearts.

 

3) The consecrated Virgins and the Eucharist.

Certainly, none of us is "worthy" of Jesus, of his presence and of his love, but we know in faith that we only need a nod, a word, a single glance, and He can save us. 

Attentive to this word and with the eyes of the heart open to receive this glance, the consecrated Virgins are significant witnesses of this humility that makes possible for Christ to dwell in the human heart and be brought into the world.

To the Eucharistic sacrifice of Christ these women unite their sacrifice in the exclusive gift of giving themselves to Christ, thus manifesting in a special way the Eucharistic dimension of the daily life of every Christian.

Sacrifice is necessary for true life, which, for this to be, must be lived eucharistically. Everybody is aware of the strength that this temptation has in today's cultural landscape. The sirens of our time sing the melody of a life without sacrifice in affection, work, and so on. In this way they condemn men to remain stranded in the trials of the everyday life, deluding them that sacrifices should not exist.

How to understand and live this "strange necessity of sacrifice"? Having experience of self-giving and of gratuity.

There is a relationship between renunciation and joy, between sacrifice and dilation of the heart. The sacrifice made by chaste love opens the heart, attests the preferential love for the Lord and symbolizes, in the most eminent and absolute way, the mystery of the union of the mystical body with the body of the consecrated, of the bride with her eternal groom. Consecrated virginity, finally, reaches, transforms and penetrates the human being in the deep of his and her soul, through a mysterious resemblance to Christ, who in the Eucharist offers to us his Body, Bread of Life.

 

 

Patristic reading

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Sermon 131

 

 1). We have heard the True Master, the Divine Redeemer, the human Saviour, commending to us our Ransom, His Blood. For He spake to us of His Body and Blood; He called His Body Meat, His Blood Drink. The faithful recognise the Sacrament of the faithful. But the hearers what else do they but hear? When therefore commending such Meat and such Drink He said, “Except ye shall eat My Flesh and drink My Blood, ye shall have no life in you; “1 (and this that He said concerning life, who else said it but the Life Itself? But that man shall have death, not life, who shall think that the Life is false), His disciples were offended, not all of them indeed, but very many, saying within themselves, “This is an hard saying, who can hear it? “2 But when the Lord knew this in Himself, and heard the murmurings of their thought, He answered them, thinking though uttering nothing, that they might understand that they were heard, and might cease to entertain such thoughts. What then did He answer? “Doth this offend you?”“What then if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where He was before?”3 What meaneth this? “Doth this offend you?” “Do ye imaginethat I am about to make divisions of this My Body which ye see; and to cut up My Members, and give them to you? ‘What then if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where He was before?’” Assuredly, He who could ascend Whole could not be consumed. So then He both gave us of His Body and Blood a healthful refreshment, and briefly solved so great a question as to His Own Entireness. Let them then who eat, eat on, and them that drink, drink; let them hunger and thirst; eat Life, drink Life. That eating, is to be refreshed; but thou art in such wise refreshed, as that that whereby thou art refreshed, faileth not. That drinking, what is it but to live? Eat Life, drink Life; thou shalt have life, and the Life is Entire. But then this shall be, that is, the Body and the Blood of Christ shall be each man’s Life; if what is taken in the Sacrament visibly is in the truth itself eaten spiritually, drunk spiritually. For we have heard the Lord Himself saying, “It is the Spirit That quickeneth, but the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I have spoken unto you, are Spirit and Life. But there are some of you,” saith He, “that believe not.”4 Such were they who said, “This is a hard saying, who can hear it?” It is hard, but only to the hard; that is, it is incredible, but only to the incredulous. 2. But in order to teach us that this very believing is matter of gift, not of desert, He saith, “As I have said unto you, no man cometh unto Me, except it were given him of My Father.”5 Now as to where the Lord said this, if we call to mind the foregoing words of the Gospel, we shall find that He had said, “No man cometh unto Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him.”6 He did not lead, but draw. This violence is done to the heart, not the body. Why then dost thou marvel? Believe, and thou comest; love, and thou art drawn. Do not suppose here any rough and uneasy violence; it is gentle, it is sweet; it is the very sweetness that draweth thee. Is not a sheep drawn, when fresh grass is shown to it in its hunger? Yet I imagine that it is not bodily driven on, but fast bound by desire. In such wise do thou come too to Christ; do not conceive of long journeyings; where thou believest, there thou comest. For unto Him, who is everywhere we come by love, not by sailing. But forasmuch as even in this kind of voyage, waves and tempests of divers temptations abound; believe on the Crucified; that thy faith may be able to ascend the Wood. Thou shalt not sink, but shalt be borne upon the Wood. Thus, even thus, amid the waves of this world did he sail, who said, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”7 3. But wonderful it is, that when Christ Crucified is preached, two hear, one despiseth, the other ascendeth. Let him that despiseth, impute it to himself; let not him that ascendeth, arrogate it to himself. For he hath beard from the True Master ; “No man cometh unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father.” let him joy, that it hath been given; let him render thanks to Him who giveth it, with a humble, not an arrogant heartlest what he hath attained8 through humility, he lose through pride. For even they who are already walking in this way of righteousness, if they attribute it to themselves, and to their own strength, perish out of it. And therefore Holy Scripture teaching us humility saith by the Apostle, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”9 And lest hereupon they should attribute ought to themselves, because he said, “Work,” he subjoined immediately, “For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”10 “It is God who worketh in you;” therefore “with fear and trembling,” make a valley, receive the rain. Low grounds are filled, high grounds are dried up. Grace is rain. Why dost thou marvel then, if “God resist the proud, and giveth grace unto the lowly “?11 Therefore, “with fear and trembling;” that is, with humility. “Be not high-minded, but fear.”12 Fear that thou mayest be filled; be not high-minded, test thou be dried up. 4. But you will say, “I am walking in this way already; once there was need for me to learn, there was need for me to know by the teaching of the law what I had to do: now I have the free choice of the will; who shall withdraw me from this way?” If thou read carefully, thou wilt find that a certain man began to uplift himself, on a certain abundance of his, which he had nevertheless received; but that the Lord in mercy, to teach him humility, took away what He had given; and he was on a sudden reduced to poverty, and confessing the mercy of God in his recollection, he said, “In my abundance I said, I shall never be moved.”13 “In my abundance I said.” But I said it, I who am a man said it; “All men are liars, I said.”14 Therefore, “in my abundance I said;” so great was the abundance, that I dared to say. “I shall never be moved.” What next? “O Lord, in Thy favour Thou gavest strength to my beauty.” But “Thou turnedst away Thy Face from me, and I was troubled.”15 “Thou hast shown me,” saith he, “that that wherein I did abound, was of Thee. Thou hast shown me Whence I should seek, to Whom attribute what I had received, to Whom I ought to render thanks, to Whom I should run in my thirst, Whereby be filled, and with Whom keep that whereby I should be filled. ‘For my strength will I keep to Thee;’16 whereby I am by Thy bounty filled, through Thy safe keeping I will not lose. ‘My strength will I keep to Thee.’ That Thou mightest show me this, ‘Thou turnedst away Thy Face from me, and I was troubled.’ ‘Troubled,’ because dried up; dried up, because exalted. Say then thou dry and parched one, that thou mayest be filled again; ‘My soul is as earth without water unto Thee.’17 Say, ‘My soul is as earth without water unto Thee.’ For Thou hast said, not the Lord, ‘I shall never be moved.’ Thou hast said it, presuming on thine own strength; but it was not of thyself, and thou didst think as if it were.” 5. What then doth the Lord say? “Serve ye the Lord in fear, and rejoice unto Him with trembling.”18 So the Apostle too, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who worketh in you.” Therefore rejoice with trembling: “Lest at any time the Lord be angry.” I see that you anticipate me by your crying out. For you know what I am about to say, you anticipate it by crying out. And whence have ye this, but that He taught you to whom ye have by believing come? This then He saith; hear what ye know already; I am not teaching, but in preaching am calling to your remembrance; nay, I am neither teaching, seeing that ye know already, nor calling to remembrance, seeing that ye remember, but let us say all together what together with us ye retain. “Embrace discipline, and rejoice,” but, “with trembling,”19 that, humble ye may ever hold fast that which ye have received. “Lest at any time the Lord be angry;” with the proud of course, attributing to themselves what they have, not rendering thanks to Him, from whom they have. “Lest at any time the Lord be angry, and ye perish from the righteous way.” Did he say, Lest at any time the Lord be angry, and ye come not into the righteous way “? Did he say, “Lest the Lord be angry, and He bring you not to the righteous way “? or “admit you not into the righteous way? Ye are walking in it already, be not proud, lest ye even perish from it. ‘And ye perish,’ saith he, ‘from the righteous way.’” “When His wrath shall be kindled in a short time”20 against you. At no distant time. As soon as thou art proud, thou losest at once what thou hadst received. As though man terrified by all this were to say, “What shall I do then?” It follows, “Blessed are all they that trust in Him:” not in themselves, but in Him. “By grace are we saved, not of ourselves, but it is the gift of God.”21 167 6. Peradventure ye are saying, “What does he mean, that he is so often saying this? A second and a third time he says it; and scarcely ever speaks, but when he says it.” Would that I may not say it in vain! For men there are unthankful to grace, attributing much to poor and disabled nature. True it is, when man was created he received great power of free-will; but he lost it by sin. He fell into death, became infirm, was left in the way by the robbers half dead; the Samaritan, which is by interpretation keeper, passing by lifted him up on his own beast;22 he is still being brought to the inn. Why is he lifted up? He is still in process of curing. “But,” he will say, “it is enough for me that in baptism I received remission of all sins.” Because iniquity was blotted out, was therefore infirmity brought to an end? “I received,” says he, “remission of all sins.” It is quite true. All sins were blotted out in the Sacrament of Baptism, all entirely, of words, deeds, thoughts, all were blotted out. But this is the “oil and wine” which was poured in by the way. Ye remember, beloved Brethren, that man who was wounded by the robbers, and half dead by the way, how he was strengthened, by receiving oil and wine for his wounds. His error indeed was already pardoned, and yet his weakness is in process of healing in the inn. The inn, if ye recognise it, is the Church. In the time present, an inn, because in life we are passing by: it will be a home, whence we shall never remove, when we shall have got in perfect health unto the kingdom of heaven. Meanwhile receive we gladly our treatment in the inn, and weak as we still are, glory we not of sound health: lest through our pride we gain nothing else, but never for all our treatment to be cured. 7. “Bless the Lord, O my soul.”23 Say, yea say to thy soul, “Thou art still in this life, still bearest about a frail flesh, still “doth the corruptible body press down the soul;”24 still after the entireness of remission hast thou received the remedy of prayer; for still, whilst thy weaknesses are being healed, dost thou say, “Forgive us our debts.”25 Say then to thy soul, thou lowly valley, not an exalted hill; say to thy soul, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”26 What benefits? Tell them, enumerate them, render thanks. What benefits? “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities.”27 This took place in baptism. What takes place now? “Who healeth all thy weaknesses.” This takesplace now; I acknowledge. But as long as I am here, “the corruptible body presseth down the soul.” Say then also that which comes next, “Who redeemeth thy life from corruption.”28 After redemption from corruption, what remaineth? “When this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is thy contention?” There rightly, “O death, where is thy sting?”29 Thou seekest its place, and findest it not. What is “the sting of death”? What is, “O death, where is thy sting?” Where is sin? Thou seekest, and it is nowhere. For “the sting of death is sin.” They are the Apostle’s words, not mine. Then shall it be said, “O death, where is thy sting?” Sin shall nowhere be, neither to surprise thee, nor to assault thee, nor to inflame30 thy conscience. Then it shall not be said, “Forgive us our debts.” But what shall be said? “O Lord our God, give us peace: for Thou hast rendered all things unto us.”31 8. Finally, after the redemption from all corruption, what remaineth but the crown of righteousness? This at least remaineth, but even in it, or under it, let not the head be swollen that it may receive the crown. Hear, mark well the Psalm, how that crown will not have a swollen head. After he had said, “Who redeemeth thy life from corruption;” he saith, “Who crowneth thee.” Here thou wert ready at once to say, “‘Crowneth thee,’ is an acknowledgment of my merits, my own excellence hath done it; it is the payment of a debt, not a gift.” Give ear rather to the Psalm. For it is thou again that sayest this; and “all men are liars.”32 Hear what God saith; “Who crowneth thee with mercy and pity.” Of His mercy He crowneth thee, of His pity He crowneth thee. For thou hadst no worthiness that He should call thee, and being called should justify thee, being justified glorify thee. “The remnant is saved by the election of grace. But if by grace, then is it no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace. For to him that worketh, the reward shall not be reckoned according to grace, but according to debt.”33 The Apostle saith, “Not according to grace, but according to debt.” But “thee He crowneth with pity and mercy;” and if thy own merits have gone before, God saith to thee, “Examine well thy merits, and thou shalt see that they are My gifts.” 9. This then is the righteousness of God. As it is called, “The Lord’s salvation,”34 not whereby the Lord is saved, but which He giveth to them whom He saveth; so too the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord is called the righteousness of God, not as that whereby the Lord is righteous, but whereby He justifieth those whom of ungodly He maketh righteous. But some, as the Jews in former times, both wish to be called Christians, and still ignorant of God’s righteousness, desire to establish their own, even in our own times, in the times of open grace, the times of the full revelation of grace which before was hidden; in the times of grace now manifested in the floor, which once lay hid in the fleece. I see that a few have understood me, that more have not understood, whom I will by no means defraud by keeping silence. Gideon, one of the righteous men of old, asked for a sign from the Lord, and said, “I pray, Lord, that this fleece which I put in the floor be bedewed,35 and that the floor be dry.”36 And it was so; the fleece was bedewed, the whole floor was dry. In the morning he wrung out tim fleece in a basin; forasmuch as to the humble is grace given; and in a basin, ye know what the Lord did to His disciples. Again, he asked for another sign; “O Lord, I would,” saith he, “that the fleece be dry, the floor bedewed.” And it was so. Call to mind the time of the Old Testament, grace was hidden in a cloud, as the rain in the fleece. Marc now the time of the New Testament, consider well the nation of the Jews, thou wilt find it as a dry fleece; whereas the whole world, like that floor, is full of grace, not hidden, but manifested. Wherefore we are forced exceedingly to bewail our brethren, who strive not against hidden, but against open and manifested grace. There is allowance for the Jews. What shall we say of Christians? Wherefore are ye enemies to the grace of Christ? Why rely ye on yourselves? Why unthankful? For why did Christ come? Was not nature here before? Was not nature here, which ye only deceive by your excessive praise? Was not the Law here? But the Apostle says, “If righteousness come by the Law, then Christ is dead in vain.”37 What the Apostle says of the Law, that say we of nature to these men. “If righteousness come by nature, then Christ is dead in vain.” 10. What then was said of the Jews, the same altogether do we see in these men now. “They have a zeal of God: I hear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.”38 What is, “not according to knowledge”? “For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and wishing to establish their own, they have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”39 My Brethren, share with me in my sorrow. When ye find such as these, do not hide them; be there no such misdirected40 mercy in you; by all means, when ye find such, hide them not. Convince the gainsayers, and those who resist, bring to us. For already have two41 councils on this question been sent to theApostolic see; and rescripts also have come from thence. The question has been brought to an issue; would that their error may sometime be brought to an issue too! Therefore do we advise that they may take heed, we teach that they may be instructed, we pray that they may be changed. Let us turn to the Lord, etc.

1 (Jn 6,53

2 (Jn 6,60

 3 (Jn 6,61-62

. 4 (Jn 6,63-64. 

5 (Jn 6,65 

6 (Jn 6,44 

7 (Ga 6,14). 

8 Meruit.

 9 (Ph 2,12 

10 (Ph 2,13 

11 (Jc 4,6 

12 (Rm 11,20 

13 (Ps 29,6 Sept. (xxx. English version). 

14 (Ps 116,11 

15 (Ps 29,8 Sept. (xxx. 7, English version). 

16 (Ps 58,10 Sept. (lix. 9, English version). 

17 (Ps 142,6 Sept. (cxliii. English version). 

18 (Ps 2,11 Sept. 

19 (Ps 2,12 Sept. 

20 (Ps 2,13 Sept. 

21 (Ep 2,8). 

22 (Lc 10,30 etc.

 23 (Ps 103,1 

24 (Sg 9,15

 25 (Mt 6,12 

26 (Ps 103,2 

27 (Ps 103,3 

28 (Ps 103,4 

29 (1Co 15,54-55. 

30 Titillet. 

31 (Is 26,12 Sept.

 32 (Ps 116,11 

33 (Rm 11,5-6 Rm 4,4. 

34 (Ps 3,9 Sept. (iii. 8, English version)). 

35 Compluatur. 

36 (Jg 6,37 37 Gal 2,21. 

38 (Rm 10,20 

39 (Rm 10,3 40 Perversa. 

41 Of Carthage and Milevis which are among the Epistles of St. Augustin, 175, 176. And the rescripts of the Roman Pontiff, Innocent (A.D. 417), in the Epistles 181, 182. Ben. ed. note.

 

 

Revigorés par la nourriture que Dieu nous donne, nous portons Jésus dans le cœur de tous (Pape Léon XIV)

 Fête-Dieu – Année A – 7 juin 2026

 

Rite romain

Dt 8, 2-3.14-16 ; Ps 147 ; 1 Cor 10, 16 – 17 ; Jn 6, 51 - 58

Rite Ambrosien

Dt 8, 2-3.14-16 ; Ps 147 ; 1 Cor 10, 16 – 17 ; Jn 6, 51 – 58


1) Etonnement pour un don immense.

Dimanche dernier, nous avons célébré la Trinité, mystère d’Amour qui est source inépuisable de Vie qui se donne et se communique incessamment. Il fait de nous sa demeure où chaque chose retrouve Dieu, écoute Dieu, murmure Dieu, espère et aime Dieu. « Dieu est amour: c’est pour cela que Lui est Trinité... L’amour suppose un qui aime, un qui est aimé et l’amour même (Saint Augustin, De Trinitate, VIII, 10, 14). Le Père est, dans la Trinité, celui qui aime, la source et le début de tout ; le Fils est celui qui est aimé; le Saint Esprit est l’amour avec lequel ils s’aiment.

Aujourd’hui, Fête-Dieu, solennité du très Saint Corps et Sang du Christ ou Corpus Domini comme on l’appelle encore, nous sommes invités à célébrer dans l’étonnement le mystère de la présence réelle du Seigneur dans l’Eucharistie qui nous donne la nourriture et la boisson du ciel, pour alimenter notre vie terrestre et pour affronter le chemin vers la vie céleste. « En s’offrant entièrement, le Christ ressuscité et crucifié se donne à nous, qui découvrons ainsi que nous sommes faits pour nous nourrir de Dieu. Notre nature affamée porte la marque d’une indigence que la grâce de l’Eucharistie apaise. Comme l’écrit saint Augustin, le Christ est véritablement « un pain insuffisant, et non déficient ; un pain qui peut consommer, mais qui ne se consomme pas » (Sermon 130, 2) : un pain qui nourrit et ne manque jamais ; un pain qui peut être mangé, mais qui ne peut jamais s’épuiser » (Pape Léon XIV, Solennité du très Saint Corps et Sang du Christ, 22 juin 2025).

Aujourd’hui l’Église célèbre non seulement l’Eucharistie mais la porte aussi en procession. Ce que le Rédempteur nous a donné dans l’intimité du cénacle, nous le manifestons aujourd’hui ouvertement parce que l’amour du Christ n’est pas réservé à certains mais est destiné à tous.

            Aujourd’hui nous annonçons publiquement que le sacrifice du Christ est pour le salut du monde entier. Et cela ne vaut pas pour le passé. Le fait que Dieu ait aimé les hommes jusqu’au point d’envoyer son Fils pour les racheter de leur condition misérable, n’est pas un passé à regretter comme étant désormais fini : en effet il se déverse dans le présent. Cet amour est actuel, vif et opératoire aujourd’hui de manière étonnante.

Aujourd’hui l’Eglise nous invite à entrer avec étonnement dans ce « mystère de la foi », que le prêtre - chaque fois qu’il célèbre la Messe - synthétise avec les ineffables paroles de Jésus avec lesquelles le grand don de Lui-même se réalise : « Prenez et mangez, ceci est mon corps. Prenez et buvez ceci est le calice de mon sang. Faites ceci en ma mémoire » (Lc 22,16.)
            Dans son encyclique sur l’Eucharistie, Saint Jean-Paul II manifestait cet étonnement en écrivant de cette façon : « Lorsque je pense à l’Eucharistie, parcourant ma vie de prêtre, d' évêque, de successeur de Pierre, je me rappelle spontanément tous les moments et tous les lieux où je l’ai célébrée... la cathédrale de Wawel, la basilique Saint -Pierre... dans les chapelles situées sur les sentiers de montagne, près des lacs, au bord des mers, je l’ai célébrée sur des autels construits dans les stades, dans les places des villes. Ce scénario si varié m’en fait expérimenter fortement le caractère universel et, pour ainsi dire, cosmique. Oui, cosmique. Parce que lorsque l’Eucharistie est célébrée sur le petit autel de campagne, elle est toujours célébrée, dans un certain sens, sur l’autel du monde. Elle unit le ciel et la terre. Elle comprend et imprègne toute la création. Le Fils de Dieu s’est fait homme pour restituer - dans un suprême acte de louange  -toute la création à Celui qui l’a crée à partir de rien. C’est vraiment cela le Mysterium Fidei que l’on célèbre dans l’Eucharistie; le monde, sorti des mains de Dieu créateur, retourne à lui, sauvé par le Christ (Lettre Enc. Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 8)

Dans la messe et par le don de Jésus dans l’Eucharistie, chacun de nous doit vivre la même merveille, joie et gratitude dont St Jean-Paul II parle dans le passage que je viens de citer.
            Mettons nous en adoration devant ce grand mystère et de miséricorde. Le Christ ne pouvait pas faire plus pour nous. Vraiment, dans l’Eucharistie, le Rédempteur nous montre un amour qui va jusqu' à l’extrême (cf. Jn 13,1), un amour qui ne connaît pas de mesures ni de limites.
            Cet aspect de charité universelle du sacrement eucharistique est fondé sur les paroles mêmes du Sauveur. En l’instituant, il ne s’est pas limité à dire « Ceci est mon corps », « Ceci est mon sang », mais il a ajouté, « donné pour vous... versé pour vous… » (Lc 22,19-20). Il n’affirma pas seulement que ce qu’il leur donnait à manger et à boire était son corps et son sang mais il en a exprimé la valeur sacrificielle, en rendant présent, d’une manière sacramentelle, son sacrifice qui se s’accomplirait sur la croix, quelques heures après, pour le salut de tous.

 

2) Mendier le Corps du Christ crucifié 

Dans l’Eucharistie Jésus est présent non pas comme une chose mais comme une personne, comme un « moi » qui se donne à un « toi ».

Lorsque nous recevons la communion, nous tendons la main pour recevoir le Seigneur de la vie, nous sommes donc des mendiants qui tendent leurs mains pour demander la charité du pain de vie éternelle. Reconnaissons être des pauvres qui recevons tout. Encore plus, nous recevons le Tout qui n’est pas une chose mais quelqu’un qui se donne à nous. Recevoir le pain de vie est une communion de personnes, nous rencontrons le Christ et son coeur parle à notre coeur.
            Dans cette rencontre eucharistique le Rédempteur ne parle pas seulement, mais il agit : « C’est le Christ qui y agit, qui est sur l’autel ». C’est un don du Christ  qui se rend présent et nous rassemble autour de lui, pour nous nourrir de sa Parole et de sa vie. A travers l’Eucharistie, le Christ veut entrer dans notre existence et l’imprégner de sa grâce. Nous vivons donc l’Eucharistie avec un esprit de foi, de prière, de pardon, de pénitence, de joie partagée, de préoccupation pour les nécessiteux et pour les nécessités de beaucoup frères et soeurs, dans la certitude que le Seigneur accomplira ce qu’il nous a promis : la vie éternelle » (Pape François). La vie est la relation d’amour avec le Père qui la donne et avec les frères qui sont des fils comme toi, cela c’est déjà la vie éternelle, c’est la vie de Dieu, et c’est celle que Jésus veut nous communiquer.


            A travers l’Eucharistie, il se produit une relation de communion pleine entre nous et Jésus parce que nous pouvons expérimenter ce Dieu qui a tant aimé le monde au point tel de donner son propre fils pour que le monde vive. « Manger le pain vivant... manger le corps.... » : manger la chair, manger l’Amour, manger Dieu : tout est extrêmement concret et tout est d’une densité infinie. Manger l'Amour incarné de Dieu pour que Dieu continue à s'incarner et la chair de l’homme expérimente la vie de Dieu : l’amour de l’homme devienne l’Amour de Dieu er resplendisse sa gloire. Tout est Dieu et tout est si concrètement humain. Tout est merveilleux : tout requiert « seulement » le courage de croire à l’Amour infini de Dieu dans l'obscurité de la croix de Jésus.

L’Hostie est étroitement liée à la Croix. « Dans l’Eucharistie le Christ actualise toujours et à nouveau le don de Lui-même qu’il a fait sur la croix. Toute sa vie est un acte de total partage de lui par amour » (Pape François).

L'Eucharistie est par excellence le sacrement de la Passion et de la mort du Christ. Jésus l’ institua dans un excès d'Amour, la nuit où il fut trahi, quand, après avoir béni et frappé le pain et après avoir béni le vin, les distribua aux apôtres en disant : « Faites ceci en mémoire de moi ». La Sainte Messe renouvelle mystiquement  la Mort du Christ, en proclame le Résurrection dans l'attente de sa venue.

Toutefois, il faut tenir compte que le sacrifice du Christ est un sacrifice de communion et de louange.

Déjà dans l’Ancien Testament, parmi les différents types de sacrifices, il y avait celui qui était appelé « sacrifice de communion »  ou « offrande de paix »  parce qu’il voulait exprimer l’union entre Dieu et le donateur par une offrande de remerciement[1]. La victime était partagée entre Dieu, le prêtre et le donateur. La partie destinée à Dieu était brûlée sur l’autel. Le fidèle mangeait devant Yahvé, presque en sa compagnie. C’était le repas sacrificiel dans lequel s’établissait une communion spirituelle, une alliance entre Yahvé et le donateur. Ici, l’idée de « manger[2] à la table du Seigneur », avec Lui, comme ses invités est très claire.

Pendant la Messe, le remerciement est l’aspect le plus significatif et – d’une manière surprenante - on le trouve dès le début. Notons que Jésus, même avant de ressusciter Lazare, lève les yeux et dit : « Père, je te remercie de m’avoir écouté » (Jn 11,41). Il remercie, avant de faire le miracle, certain que le Père le fera.

En transformant sa propre mort en sacrifice de remerciement, Jésus nous fait comprendre que, pour lui, Sa passion est un don du Père, que c’est sa glorification (cf. Jn 12, 28-33 ; 13, 31-32).
            La mort elle-même est transformée en victoire ; Jésus vainc la mort avec la mort; sa mort devient un sacrifice de remerciement.

L’eucharistie du dimanche ou de chaque jour devraient avoir pour effet de transformer, par le Christ, toute la vie en un perpétuel sacrifice de remerciement et nous faire vivre chaque événement comme un don. Je dis bien « devrait » parce que souvent nous nous approchons avec distraction, par habitude, ou avec prétention, par vanité. L’Eucharistie est un don de Miséricorde que nous pouvons recevoir après avoir demandé pardon et après avoir dit : « Seigneur, je ne suis pas digne de participer à ta table : mais dis seulement une parole et je serai sauvé ».
            L'Eglise a choisi  comme dernier moment de préparation à la réception de l’eucharistie, de reprendre les paroles du centurion romain de Capharnaüm lorsqu’il demanda à Jésus de guérir son fidèle serviteur malheureusement paralysé et très souffrant : « Seigneur, je ne suis pas digne que tu entres sous mon toit mais dis seulement une parole et mon serviteur sera guéri » (Mt 8,8). L'attitude d’extrême humilité et de profonde confiance qui caractérisa la demande de cet officier païen qui demandait l’intervention salvifique du Christ chez lui - une vraie profession de foi - veut et doit être l’attitude de nous tous, prêtres et fidèles (ces paroles doivent être dites par le prêtre ensemble, avec les fidèles) quand nous sommes en train de recevoir le Seigneur dans notre coeur.


3) Les vierges consacrées et l’Eucharistie.

 Il est certain qu’aucun de nous n'est « digne » de Jésus, de sa présence et de son amour, mais nous savons, dans la foi, qu’il nous suffit même d’un seul son, signe, d’une parole, d’un seul regard et que Lui peut nous sauver.

 Attentives à cette parole et avec les yeux du cœur ouverts pour recevoir ce regard, les vierges consacrées sont des témoins significatives de cette humilité qui fait que le Christ prenne sa demeure dans le coeur humain et soit porté dans le monde.

Au sacrifice eucharistique du Christ, ces femmes unissent leur sacrifice comme don exclusif d’elles-mêmes au Christ, de cette façon elles manifestent d’une manière spéciale la dimension eucharistique de la vie quotidienne de chaque chrétien.

Le sacrifice est nécessaire à la vraie vie qui pour être telle, doit être vécue eucharistiquement. Tout le monde peut imaginer la force de cette tentation dans le panorama culturel actuel. Les sirènes de notre temps chantent la mélodie d'une vie sans sacrifice dans les liens d’affection, au travail.... Et de cette façon, en pratique elles condamnent les hommes à rester enfermés dans les épreuves de leur vie quotidienne, en leur donnant l'illusion que ces épreuves ne devraient pas exister.

 
            Comment comprendre et vivre cette « étrange nécessité du sacrifice » ? En faisant l’expérience du don de soi et de la gratuité.

Il existe un rapport entre le renoncement et la joie, entre le sacrifice et la dilatation du coeur. Le sacrifice accompli par amour chaste ouvre le coeur, atteste l’amour préférentiel pour le Seigneur et symbolise, de la façon la plus éminente et absolue, le mystère de l’union du corps mystique à son Corps, de l’épouse à son éternel époux. La virginité consacrée, enfin,  rejoint transforme et pénètre l'être humain dans son intime, par une mystérieuse ressemblance avec le Christ qui dans l’Eucharistie nous offre son Corps, Pain de vie.



Lecture Patristique

Saint Augustin d’Hippone

Sermon 131


ANALYSE. - Quelqu'avantageuse que fut la promesse de l'Eucharistie, plusieurs n'y crurent pas. C'est que la grâce est nécessaire pour croire, pour mener une sainte vie et pour persévérer dans le bien. Pourquoi revenir si souvent sur ce sujet? C'est que plusieurs aujourd'hui le méconnaissent parmi les Chrétien; eux-mêmes. Déjà les Juifs attribuaient à la grâce la rémission des péchés, la guérison des langueurs de l'âme, l'exemption de la corruption et le couronnement des mérites. Et aujourd'hui que le Sauveur à répandu la grâce par tout l'univers, on peut la méconnaître comme la méconnaissaient les Pharisiens? Mais la cause est jugée, car Rome a parlé.

1. Nous avons entendu le Maître de la vérité, le Rédempteur divin, le Sauveur des hommes recommander à nôtre amour le sang qui nous a rachetés. Car en nous parlant de son corps et de son sang, il a dit que l'un serait notre nourriture et l'autre notre breuvage. 
Les fidèles reconnaissent ici le Sacrement des fidèles. Mais qu'y voient les catéchumènes?
Afin donc d'exciter notre ardeur pour une telle nourriture et pour un breuvage si divin, le Sauveur disait: «Si vous ne mangez ma chair et si vous ne buvez mon sang, vous n'aurez pas en vous la vie,» et c'est la Vie même qui parlait ainsi de la vie, et pour celui qui accuserait la Vie de mentir, cette vie deviendrait la mort. Ce fut alors que se scandalisèrent, non pas tous les disciples, mais un grand nombre et ceux-ci (538) disaient en eux-mêmes: «Ce langage est dur, qui peut le supporter?» Mais le Seigneur vit tout en esprit, il entendit le bruit de leurs pensées, et pour leur apprendre qu'il avait entendu leurs murmures intérieurs et les déterminer à y mettre un terme, il répondit avant même qu'ils eussent parlé. Que leur dit-il? «Cela vous scandalise? Et si, vous voyez le Fils de l'homme remonter où il était d'abord?» Qu'est-ce à dire, Cela vous, scandalise? Croyez-vous que je vais couper mes membres en morceaux afin de vous les donner? Et «si vous voyez le Fils de l'homme remonter où il était d'abord?» Vous comprendrez sûrement, en le voyant remonter tout entier, qu'il n'était pas consumable.
C'est ainsi qu'il nous dorme avec son corps et avec son sang une alimentation salutaire et qu'il résout en quelques mots l'importante question de son incorruptibilité. Vous qui mangez, mangez donc réellement; buvez aussi, vous qui buvez; ayez faim, ayez soif; mangez la vie, buvez la vie. Manger ce corps, c'est se nourrir, mais se nourrir sans rien retrancher de ce qui nourrit. Qu'est-ce aussi que boire ce sang, sinon puiser la vie? Mange la vie, bois la vie: ainsi tu l'acquerras en la laissant tout entière. Mais pour y parvenir, pour trouver la vie dans le corps et le sang du Christ, chacun doit manger et boire véritablement et d'une manière toute spirituelle, ce qu'il reçoit dans le Sacrement d'une manière sensible. Effectivement, nous avons entendu dire au Seigneur: «C'est l'esprit qui vivifie et la chair ne sert de rien. Les paroles que je vous ai adressées sont esprit et vie: mais il en est parmi vous, poursuit-il, qui ne croient pas.» C'était ceux qui disaient: «Ce langage est dur; qui peut le supporter?» Oui, il est dur, mais pour les durs; il est incroyable, mais pour les incrédules.



[1] Zebah selamin en hébreux, eucharisto en grec

[2] Cela s’accomplie dans le geste de Jésus qui mange avec le pécheur et, surtout, dans l’Eucharistie. Le sacrifce de louange (Toda = merci) décrit en Lv 7,11-17, revient souvent dans les Psaumes (cf. Ps 22;116, 107…). Le schéma est simple: une personne se trouver dans un danger, invoque le Seigneur, en promettant un sacrifice de remercîment, l’aide désirée arrive, la personne va au Temple pour offrir le sacrifice promis.

Ristorati dal cibo che Dio ci dona, portiamo Gesù al cuore di tutti (Papa Leone XIV)

 Corpus Domini – Anno A - 7 giugno 2026

 

Rito Romano

Dt 8,2-3.14-16; Sal 147; 1Cor 10,16-17; Gv 6,51-58

 

Rito Ambrosiano

Dt 8,2-3. 14b-16a; Sal 147; 1Cor 10,16-17; Gv 6, 51-58

 

 

 

1)    Stupore per un dono immenso.

Domenica scorsa abbiamo celebrato la Trinità, mistero di Amore, che è fonte inesauribile di Vita che incessantemente si dona e si comunica, e che fa di noi Sua dimora, dove ogni cosa ritrova Dio, ascolta Dio, sussurra Dio, spera e ama Dio. “Dio è amore: per questo Lui è Trinità… L’amore suppone uno che ama, ciò che è amato e l’amore stesso” (Sant’Agostino, De Trinitate, VIII, 10, 14). Il Padre è, nella Trinità, colui che amala fonte e il principio di tutto; il Figlio è colui che è amatolo Spirito Santo è l’amore con cui si amano.

Oggi, solennità del Santissimo Corpo e Sangue di Cristo o Corpus Domini come ancora si usa chiamarla, siamo inviatati a celebrare nello stupore il mistero della presenza reale del Signore nell’Eucaristia che ci dona il cibo e la bevanda del cielo, per alimentare questa nostra vita terrena e per affrontare il cammino verso la vita celeste.  Offrendo tutto sé stesso, il Crocifisso Risorto si consegna a noi, che scopriamo così d’essere fatti per nutrirci di Dio. La nostra natura affamata porta il segno di un’indigenza che viene saziata dalla grazia dell’Eucaristia. Come scrive Sant’Agostino, davvero Cristo è «panis qui reficit, et non deficitpanis qui sumi potest, consumi non potest» (Sermo 130, 2): un pane che nutre e non viene meno; un pane che si può mangiare ma non si può esaurire” /Papa Leone XIV, Solennità del Corpo e del Sangue di Cristo, 22 giugno 2025).

            Oggi, la Chiesa non solo celebra l’Eucarestia, ma la reca solennemente in processione. Quello che il Redentore ci ha donato nell’intimità del Cenacolo, oggi lo manifestiamo apertamente, perché l’amore di Cristo non è riservato ad alcuni, ma è destinato a tutti. 

Oggi annunciamo pubblicamente che il Sacrificio di Cristo è per la salvezza del mondo intero. E ciò non vale solo per il passato. Il fatto che Dio ha amato gli uomini al punto tale da mandare il suo Figlio a riscattarli dalla loro misera condizione, non è un passato da rimpiangere come ormai concluso: esso infatti si riversa nel presente. Quell’amore è attuale, vivo e operante oggi in modo stupefacente. 

Oggi la Chiesa ci invita ad entrare con stupore in questo “mistero della fede”, che il sacerdote, ogni volta che celebra la Messa così sintetizza, con le ineffabili parole di Gesù in cui si compie il grande dono di Sé: “Prendete e mangiate, questo è il mio corpo. Prendete e bevete questo è il calice del mio sangue. Fate questo in memoria di Me” (Lc22, 16).

Nella sua enciclica sull’Eucarestia San Giovanni Paolo II così scriveva manifestando questo stupore: “Quando penso all'Eucarestia, guardando alla mia vita di sacerdote, di vescovo, di successore di Pietro, mi viene spontaneo ricordare i tanti momenti e i tanti luoghi in cui mi è successo di celebrarla... la cattedrale di Wawel, la basilica di San Pietro... in cappelle poste sui sentieri di montagna, sulle sponde di laghi, sulle rive dei mari, l'ho celebrata in altari costruiti negli stadi, nelle piazze delle città. Questo scenario così variegato, me ne fa sperimentare fortemente il carattere universale e, per così dire, cosmico. Sì, cosmico. Perché quando viene celebrata sul piccolo altare di campagna, l'Eucarestia è sempre celebrata, in un certo senso, sull'altare del mondo. Essa unisce il cielo e la terra. Comprende e pervade tutto il creato. Il Figlio di Dio si è fatto uomo, per restituire tutto il creato, in un supremo atto di lode, a Colui che lo ha fatto dal nulla... Davvero è questo, il Mysterium Fidei, che si celebra nell’Eucarestia; il mondo, uscito dalle mani di Dio creatore, torna a Lui, redento da Cristo” (Lett. Enc. Ecclesia de Eucaristia, n. 8).

Nella Messa e per il dono di Gesù nell'Eucarestia ognuno di noi deve vivere la stessa meraviglia, gioia e gratitudine, di cui parla S. Giovanni Paolo II nel brano che ho appena citato.

Mettiamoci in adorazione davanti a questo Mistero grande e di misericordia. Il Cristo non poteva fare di più per noi. Davvero, nell’Eucaristia, il Redentore ci mostra un amore che va fino “all’estremo” (cfr. Gv 13,1), un amore che non conosce misura e confini.

Questo aspetto di carità universale del Sacramento eucaristico è fondato sulle parole stesse del Salvatore. Istituendolo, Egli non si limitò a dire “Questo è il mio corpo”, “questo è il mio sangue”, ma aggiunse “dato per voi...versato per voi” (Lc 22,19-20). Non affermò soltanto che ciò che dava loro da mangiare e da bere era il suo corpo e il suo sangue, ma ne espresse anche il valore sacrificale, rendendo presente in modo sacramentale il suo sacrificio, che si sarebbe compiuto sulla Croce alcune ore dopo per la salvezza di tutti. 

 

2)    Mendicare il Corpo di Cristo crocifisso.

Nell’Eucarestia Gesù è presente non come una cosa, ma come una Persona, cioè come un “Io” che si dona a un “tu”, che lo mendica.

Quando andiamo a ricevere la Comunione, tendiamo la mano per ricevere il Signore della vita, siamo, quindi, dei mendicanti che tendono la mano per chiedere la carità del Pane di vita eterna. Riconosciamo di essere poveri che riceviamo tutto. Anzi riceviamo il Tutto, che non è qualcosa ma Qualcuno, che si dona a noi. Il ricevere il Pane di vita è comunione di persone, incontriamo Cristo e il suo Cuore parla al nostro cuore.

      In questo incontro eucaristico il Redentore non solo ci parla, ma agisce: “E’ Cristo che lì agisce, che è sull’altare. E’ un dono di Cristo, il quale si rende presente e ci raccoglie attorno a sé, per nutrirci della sua Parola e della sua vita. Attraverso l’Eucarestia, Cristo vuole entrare nella nostra esistenza e permearla della sua grazia. Viviamo quindi l'Eucarestia con spirito di fede, di preghiera, di perdono, di penitenza, di gioia comunitaria, di preoccupazione per i bisognosi e per i bisogni di tanti fratelli e sorelle, nella certezza che il Signore compirà quello che ci ha promesso: la vita eterna” (Papa Francesco). La vita è la relazione d’amore col Padre che la dona e coi fratelli che sono figli come te e questa è già vita eterna, è la vita di Dio, ed è quella che Gesù ci vuol comunicare.

Attraverso l’Eucaristia, si attua una relazione di comunione piena tra Gesù e noi perché possiamo sperimentare quel Dio che ha tanto amato il mondo da dare il proprio Figlio, perché il mondo viva. “Mangiare il pane vivo...mangiare il corpo...”: mangiare la carne, mangiare l'Amore, mangiare Dio: tutto è estremamente concreto e tutto è di una densità infinita. Mangiare l'Amore incarnato di Dio perché Dio continui ad incarnarsi e la carne dell'uomo sperimenti la vita di Dio: l'amore dell'uomo diventi l'Amore di Dio risplenda la sua Gloria. Tutto è Dio e tutto è così concretamente umano. Tutto è stupendo: tutto richiede “soltanto” il coraggio di credere l’ “Amore” infinito di Dio nell'oscurità della Croce di Gesù.

            L’Ostia è strettamente legata alla Croce. “Nell'Eucaristia Cristo attua sempre nuovamente il dono di sé che ha fatto sulla Croce. Tutta la sua vita è un atto di totale condivisione di sé per amore” (Papa Francesco). 

            L’Eucarestia è il Sacramento della Passione e Morte di Cristo per eccellenza. Gesù l’istituì in un “eccesso” d’amore, nella notte in cui fu tradito, quando, dopo avere benedetto e spezzato il pane e dopo aver benedetto il vino, li distribuì agli Apostoli dicendo: “Fate questo in memoria di me”. La Santa Messa rinnova misticamente la Morte di Cristo, ne proclama la Risurrezione nell’attesa della Sua venuta. 

Va però tenuto presente che il sacrificio di Cristo è un sacrificio di comunione e di lode.

Già nell’Antico Testamento fra i vari tipi di sacrifici vi era quello chiamato “sacrificio di comunione” o “offerta di pace” perché voleva esprimere l’unione tra Dio e il donatore attraverso un’offerta di ringraziamento[1]. La vittima veniva spartita tra Dio, il sacerdote e l’offerente. La parte destinata a Dio veniva bruciata sull’altare. Il fedele mangiava dinanzi a Jahwé, quasi in sua compagnia. Era il pasto sacrificale, nel quale si stabiliva una comunione spirituale, un’alleanza tra Jahwé e l’offerente. E’ chiara qui l’idea di “mangiare[2] alla mensa del Signore”, con Lui, come suoi commensali. 

Nella Messa il rendimento di grazie è l’aspetto più significativo e sorprendentemente si trova fin dall’inizio. Notiamo che Gesù, anche prima di risuscitare Lazzaro, alza gli occhi e dice: “Padre, ti ringrazio che mi hai ascoltato” (Gv 11,41). Ringrazia prima di compiere il miracolo, sicuro che il Padre lo compirà.

Trasformando la propria morte in sacrificio di ringraziamento, Gesù ci fa capire che per lui la passione è un dono del Padre, è la sua glorificazione (cf Gv 12,28-33; 13,31-32). La morte stessa viene trasformata in vittoria; Gesù vince la morte con la morte; la morte sua diventa sacrificio di ringraziamento.

L’Eucaristia domenicale o quella quotidiana dovrebbero avere l’effetto di trasformare tutta la vita in perenne sacrificio di ringraziamento per mezzo di Cristo, e farci vivere ogni evento come un dono. Dico dovrebbe, perché spesso ci accostiamo con distrazione, per abitudine, o con pretesa, per vanità. L’Eucarestia è un dono di misericordia che possiamo ricevere dopo avere chiesto perdono e aver detto: “Signore, non sono degno di partecipare alla tua mensa: ma dì soltanto una parola e io sarò salvato”.

La Chiesa ha scelto, come ultimo momento in preparazione al ricevimento dell’eucarestia, di riprendere le parole del centurione romano di Cafarnao quando chiese a Gesù di guarire il suo servo fedele, purtroppo paralizzato e molto sofferente: “Signore, io non sono degno che tu entri sotto il mio tetto, ma dì soltanto una parola e il mio servo sarà guarito” (Mt 8,8). L’atteggiamento di estrema umiltà e di profonda fiducia che caratterizzò la domanda di questo ufficiale pagano nel richiedere l’intervento salvifico di Cristo nella sua casa - una vera e propria professione di fede - vuole e deve essere l’atteggiamento di tutti noi, sacerdoti e fedeli (queste parole devono essere dette dal prete insieme con i fedeli) nel momento in cui stiamo per ricevere il Signore nel nostro cuore.

 

3)    Le Vergini consacrate e l’Eucarestia.

Di sicuro nessuno di noi è “degno” di Gesù, della sua presenza e del suo amore, ma sappiamo nella fede che ci basta anche solo un suo cenno, una parola, un solo sguardo ed Egli ci può salvare.

Attente a questa parola e con gli occhi del cuore aperti per ricevere questo sguardo, le Vergini consacrate sono testimoni significative di questa umiltà che fa sì che Cristo prenda dimora nel cuore umano e sia portato nel mondo.

Al sacrificio eucaristico di Cristo queste donne uniscono il loro sacrificio nel dono esclusivo di loro stesse a Cristo, in questo modo manifestano in modo speciale la dimensione eucaristica della vita quotidiana di ogni cristiano.

Il sacrificio è necessario alla vera vita, che per essere tale va vissuta eucaristicamente. A nessuno sfugge la forza che questa tentazione possiede nell’odierno panorama culturale. Le sirene del nostro tempo cantano la melodia di una vita senza sacrificio negli affetti, nel lavoro… E in questo modo, di fatto, condannano gli uomini a rimanere incagliati nelle prove della vita quotidiana, illudendoli che queste non dovrebbero esistere.

Come capire e vivere questa “strana necessità del sacrificio”? Facendo esperienza del dono di sé e della gratuità.

C’è un rapporto tra la rinuncia e la gioia, tra il sacrificio e la dilatazione del cuore. Il sacrificio compiuto dall’amore casto  spalanca il cuore,  attesta l’amore preferenziale per il Signore e simboleggia, nel modo più eminente e assoluto, il mistero dell’unione del corpo mistico al suo corpo, della sposa all’eterno suo sposo. La verginità consacrata, infine, raggiunge, trasforma e penetra l’essere umano fin nel suo intimo, mediante una misteriosa somiglianza con il Cristo, che nell’Eucaristia ci offre il suo Corpo, Pane di vita.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lettura Patristica

Sant’Agostino d’Ippona

Cons. Evan. 303

 

Cominciamo l'analisi seguendo Matteo, che scrive: Mentre cenavano, Gesù prese il pane e, pronunziata la benedizione, lo spezzo e lo diede ai discepoli dicendo: " Prendete e mangiate; questo è il mio corpo " (Mt 26,26). Le stesse cose narrano Marco e Luca (Mc 14,17-22 Lc 22,14-23); solo che Luca parla due volte del calice, una volta prima della distribuzione del pane e un'altra dopo. La prima volta è un'anticipazione, frequente in lui; la seconda volta, da non confondersi con quella ricordata prima, sta veramente a posto suo. Il racconto cosi combinato delle due volte rende bene il pensiero com'è espresso anche dagli altri. Quanto a Giovanni, egli in questo contesto non parla affatto del corpo e del sangue del Signore, ma, com'è risaputo, in un altro capitolo ci informa che il Signore tenne su questo tema un amplissimo discorso (Jn 6,12-21). Al presente egli racconta del Signore che si alza da mensa e lava i piedi ai discepoli spiegando loro anche il motivo del gesto che aveva compiuto (Jn 13,2-22).


Nel proporre questo motivo il Signore, ricorrendo a una testimonianza scritturale, indica velatamente che il traditore era uno che stava mangiando il pane con lui (Mt 22,21 Mc 14,17 Lc 22,14). Terminata questa digressione, egli si unisce al racconto riportato concordemente dagli altri tre. Scrive: Detto questo, Gesù si turbo nello spirito, s'indigno e disse: " In verità, in verità vi dico che uno di voi mi tradirà ".



E continua ancora Giovanni: I discepoli si guardavano l'un l'altro, incerti di chi parlasse (Jn 13,21-22). Matteo e Marco scrivono: Rattristati, cominciarono a chiedergli uno dopo l'altro: " Sono forse io? "(Mt 26,22 Mc 14,17). Rispondendo Gesù disse (cosi Matteo): " Colui che insieme con me bagna la mano nel piatto è lui quello che mi tradirà ". E continua ancora Matteo inserendo le seguenti parole: Il Figlio dell'uomo se ne va, come è scritto di lui, ma guai a colui dal quale il Figlio dell'uomo viene tradito; sarebbe meglio per quell'uomo se non fosse mai nato! (Mt 26,23-24 Mc 14,20-21). In questo racconto concorda anche Marco, che procede nello stesso ordine. Poi Matteo aggiunge: Rispondendo a Giuda, che lo tradiva e gli chiedeva: " Rabbi, sono forse io? ", gli rispose: " Tu l'hai detto " (Mt 26,25). Nemmeno qui è detto espressamente che fosse proprio lui il traditore. Infatti queste parole potrebbero intendersi come: Ma io non ho detto ecc. , e la frase poté essere pronunciata da Giuda - come del resto la risposta del Signore - in modo che non tutti se ne accorgessero.



3. Matteo continua con il racconto del mistero del corpo e del sangue del Signore dato ai discepoli, e lo stesso riferiscono Marco e Luca (Mt 26,26-28 Mc 14,22-24 Lc 22,17-20). Quand'ebbe consegnato il calice il Signore torno di nuovo a parlare del traditore, come segnala Luca: Ma ecco, la mano di chi mi tradisce è con me, sulla tavola. Il Figlio dell'uomo se ne va, secondo quanto è stabilito; ma guai a quell'uomo dal quale è tradito! (Lc 22,21-22) Da cio si lascia ben comprendere che seguirono a questo punto le parole riportate da Giovanni e omesse dagli altri evangelisti. Del resto anche Giovanni: tralascia dei particolari che gli altri invece riferiscono. Il Signore pertanto passo il calice ai discepoli e poi proferi le parole di cui Luca: Ma ecco che la mano di chi mi tradisce è con me, sulla tavola. A queste parole sono da collegarsi quelle riportate da Giovanni; Uno dei suoi discepoli, quello che Gesù amava, stava reclinato sul petto di Gesù. Simon Pietro gli fece un cenno e gli disse: " Di', chi è colui a cui si riferisce? ". Ed egli, reclinandosi cosi sul petto di Gesù, gli disse: " Signore, chi è? ". Rispose allora Gesù: " E colui per il quale intingero un boccone e glielo daro ". E, intinto il boccone, lo prese e lo diede a Giuda Iscariota, figlio di Simone. E allora, dopo quel boccone, satana entro in lui (Jn 13,23-27).



4. A questo riguardo c'è da esaminare in che senso Giovanni non sia in contrasto con Luca, se costui, parlando di Giuda, segnala che il diavolo era entrato nel suo cuore già prima, quando cioè contratto con i Giudei e, ricevuto il denaro, s'incarico di tradire il Maestro (Lc 22,3-5). Non solo, ma Giovanni sembrerebbe essere in contraddizione con se stesso, in quanto sopra dice che prima di ricevere il pezzetto di pane, quando era terminata la cena, il diavolo aveva già cacciato nel cuore di Giuda il proposito di tradirlo (Jn 13,2). Come puo infatti il diavolo entrare nel cuore dei malvagi se non cacciando nei loro disegni perversi altri suggerimenti perversi? Ne segue che in questo secondo momento Giuda dovette esser invasato dal demonio in una maniera più radicale: come, in senso diametralmente opposto, accadde agli Apostoli nel ricevere lo Spirito Santo. Essi lo avevano già ricevuto dopo la resurrezione del Signore quando egli, alitando su di loro, disse: Ricevete lo Spirito Santo (Jn 20,22). Che se poi il giorno di Pentecoste lo Spirito fu loro inviato dall'alto, vuol dire che lo ricevettero in misura più abbondante (Cf. At 2,1 ss). Preso dunque il boccone di pane, non c'è dubbio che anche allora satana entro in Giuda e, come immediatamente prosegue Giovanni, in seguito a questo gli disse Gesù: " Quello che devi fare fallo al più presto ". Nessuno dei commensali capi perché gli aveva detto questo; alcuni infatti pensavano che, tenendo Giuda la cassa, Gesù gli avesse detto: " Compra quello che ci occorre per la festa ", oppure che dovesse dare qualche cosa ai poveri. Preso il boccone egli subito usci. Ed era notte. Quand'egli fu uscito, Gesù disse: " Ora il Figlio dell'uomo è stato glorificato, e anche Dio è stato glorificato in lui. E Dio lo glorificherà da parte sua e lo glorificherà subito "(Jn 13,27-32).

 

 

 

 

 

 



[1]  Zebah selamin in ebraico, eucharisto in greco,

[2] Ciò si compie nel gesto di Gesù che mangia con i peccatori e soprattutto nell’Eucaristia. Il sacrificio di lode (tôdâ = grazie) descritto in Lv 7,11-17, ricorre spesso nei Salmi (cf Sal 22; 116; 107 ...). Lo schema è semplice: una persona si trova in un pericolo, invoca il Signore promettendo un sacrificio di rendimento di grazie, arriva l’aiuto desiderato, la persona va al tempio per offrire il sacrificio promesso.