Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

Readings of the Day 

As a member of the Catholic Charities team, you may or may not know that today is Corpus Christi, the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. In August of 1264, Urban IV, by means of a papal Bull, instituted the feast of Corpus Christi for the universal Church. Since that time, this feast has helped us remember two aspects of the Body of Christ. Christians believe that we receive that gift every time we go to Communion. But in addition we believe that we, the people of God, are also the Body of Christ. St. Augustine said, "You are to become what you receive." In other words, we receive Jesus and then become His presence to all we meet. 

This year, Corpus Christi is particularly important as many of us have been separated from the Eucharist for as many as three months because of COVID-19. In the midst of that absence, with Sunday masses cancelled or offered virtually, Catholic Charities has truly been recognized as the Church in today's world. The experience of Church for most Catholics has not been through Sunday worship but through the service we provide. Food pantries are in full swing; the people of our country clearly see God in us. Brothers and sisters, while not sharing in the spiritual food, are sharing physical food to hundreds of thousands each week through our food pantries and pop up grocery distributions.

Here in Washington, DC, we've not yet been given permission to return to Sunday mass. I am told over and over again that Catholic Charities is making God present, not just to those served, but also to so many of us who are sharing the blessings of God with others. 

Our country is in such great pain, not only through the pandemic but through the original sin of racism which has become so evident in the actions of others. The Body of Christ has been torn asunder by the senseless murder of George Floyd and so many others. May the family of God, of which we all are a part, never see color, ethnic background, or physical differences as a reason for not treating another as a brother and sister with that very dignity that all human beings deserve. 

Let me close with one of my favorite quotes often shared by Cardinal Hickey. When asked why we would serve so many people who are not Catholic, his response clearly stated was simply this: "We don't serve them because they are Catholic, we serve them because we are Catholic." May all of us who work for Catholic Charities, staff or volunteer, see ourselves as the Body of Christ as we serve the Body of Christ in all of those who come our way. 

Monsignor John Enzler is President and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington.

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