Our Gospel reading this Sunday, in which we celebrate Corpus Christi, comes from Mark, and describes the setting that established the foundation of the Eucharistic celebration. Jesus took the bread, and as he was about to break it for his disciples, he said something that they had never heard before. They must have lifted their heads and turned toward him in surprise. For he told them that this was not just bread being broken for them; it was his own body. And when he prepared to pass the cup of wine to them to be consumed, he interpreted this also as his blood, which would soon be poured out for them. Fr. Demetrius Dumm, from his Praying the Scriptures, writes that these words of Jesus are the most important words that he ever spoke to his disciples. This was the last time that he would have an opportunity to speak to them, and so he summed up all his teaching, and indeed the very meaning of his life among them, as “Body-broken-for-them” and “Blood poured out for them.” In other words, he was giving them the essence of God’s revelation, embodied in himself, that human success and happiness would come only to those who join him in “breaking” their bodies and “pouring out” their blood for others. This does not mean that the followers of Jesus must literally break or sacrifice their bodies for the sake of others. But it does mean something that may be even more difficult, and that is what Paul had in mind when he wrote in his Letter to the Philippians:
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better. Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.
The Gospel reading makes it clear that the path to salvation, ultimate freedom, and joy for us humans is through unselfish love. There is no greater prayer than to respond to God’s love, as expressed in Jesus’ self-giving, by acknowledging that our gratitude can never be enough for what he has done for us. We must commit ourselves, to the best of our abilities, to love and serve others, knowing that this is how we will also partake in his resurrection glory.