CORPUS CHRISTI

29 th May 2005

S: Good morning today we keep the feast of the body and blood of Christ. It is a day in which we give thanks for the great gift that the Eucharist or Mass is to us.

B: Our word of life for today comes from John’s Gospel, “I am the living bread which has come down from heaven”. I guess words like this can sometimes be difficult to understand – we are so used to the idea of Holy Communion that we can overlook how mysterious it is.

S: I guess familiarity can lead us to take things for granted, and I guess it’s the same as the Mass. We can lose out on the profound moment that it is just like we take a sunset for granted and lose out on how amazing and unique it is. I suppose we need to regain or be open once again to moments of presence – whether it be with someone we love, the beauty of a sunset or the presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

Our reflection this morning is called “A thankful heart” – and I think that it is appropriate given that the word Eucharist means ‘thanksgiving’.

B: Take nothing for granted, for whenever you do

The “joy of enjoying” is lessened for you –

For we rob our own lives much more than we know

When we fail to respond or in any way show

Our thanks for the blessings that daily are ours …

The warmth of the sun, the fragrance of flowers,

The beauty of twilight, the freshness of dawn,

The coolness of dew on a green velvet lawn,

The kind little deeds so thoughtfully done,

The favours of friends and the love that someone

Unselfishly gives us in a myriad of ways,

Expecting no payment and no words of praise –

Oh, great is our loss when we no longer find

A thankful response to things of this kind,

For the joy of enjoying and the fullness of living

Are found in the heart that is filled with thanksgiving.

S: Before we go, we’d like to remind you that Bishop Donal Murray will lead the Corpus Christi Procession this evening through the streets of Limerick. The procession will begin outside the Augustinian Church at 8pm. This is the first Corpus Christi Procession to take place in Limerick for many years and is being held to mark the Year of the Eucharist. The Year of the Eucharist was initiated by Pope John Paul II in October 2004. The procession will proceed through O'Connell St., William St. and Cathedral Place to St. John's Cathedral. Everyone is invited to participate. This will be a unique event and a very fitting way to mark the Year of the Eucharist.

B: You’ve been listening to "Just a thought" with Brenda Cribbin

S: and Seamus Madigan. We can be contacted by e-mail on smadigan@limerickdiocese.org. If you would like your own copy of this reflection you can download it by clicking on www.limerickdiocese.org

B: We look forward to your company again next week, in the meantime, take care.

S & B: BYEEE

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