Embodied Mercy

Body and Blood of Christ

In the Gospels, we often see Jesus put word and action together, where his action embodies his words. We see this most clearly in the Johannine Gospels whenever he said, “I am,” such as when he said, “I am the light of the world,” then healed the man born blind. We see this, too, in Luke’s gospel today. Jesus speaks to the crowds about the kingdom of God, then heals them and feeds them.

In Jesus, the Word-made-Flesh, we see God’s word verified, that is, made visible through concrete actions. The kingdom of God is not an abstract idea. It is a reality where real wounds are healed and human hungers are fed.

Pope Francis has said the same about God’s mercy. It is concrete, made visible by our works of mercy. Pope John Paul II also said that the authenticity of the Eucharist is judged by our love for those in need.

On this day when we give praise for the Body and Blood of Christ, let us remember that our words about the Eucharist must be accompanied by concrete actions that show the meaning of the Eucharist. Our solemnity cannot end with the Mass’s dismissal but must be embodied by our visible care for those who hunger and thirst.