Today’s readings help us understand the Mass. At the time St. Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthians, there were problems of dissension, infighting, and eating an ordinary meal before the Lord’s Supper, which was the Mass. He solves the problem that was occurring during the Mass, by reminding them of what the Eucharist really is, but first He reminds them, that the Mass was handed down directly from Jesus. When St. Paul said, “I received what I handed on to you.”, he is referring to the offering of the Mass, which Our Lord had commanded the apostles to do at the Last Supper, when He said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
He plainly states that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ, which was given to us by Jesus, the night before He died. St. Paul said, “that the Lord Jesus, on the night He was handed over, took bread, after He had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
The people of Corinth had begun to eat an ordinary meal that was held before the commemoration of the Last Supper, which was the Mass. St. Paul disapproves of this custom and condemns its abuses.[1]
Because St. Paul disapproves of the custom, because the Eucharist is the true body of Christ, and because the people of Corinth were eating regular food before Mass, St. Paul said, “Do you not have houses in which you can eat and drink? Or do you show contempt for the Church of God, and make those who have nothing feel ashamed?”
St. Paul clearly saw the importance of helping the Corinthians to understand the great dignity of the Mass. He tried to help them to understand that the bread and wine was truly the body and blood of Christ, and was no ordinary meal. He wanted them to not only give reverence and respect to the body and blood of Christ, but also to bring them together in unity by dispelling their dissension and infighting. The Mass would become the central focus of their unity.
Today’s Gospel of Jesus healing the Centurion’s servant, reveals the importance of faith and the witness of faith. The centurion’s faith was so great he didn’t even need to be in the presence of Jesus and yet he believed our Lord could heal his slave. Jesus responds stating, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”
The centurion’s act of humility and words of faith--- have become part of the Mass, which St. Paul, so greatly tried to get the people to revere. Every day at Mass, we say, “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and I shall be healed.”
At every Mass, we try to imitate the faith and humility of the centurion before we receive the Sacred Body of Christ truly present in the Eucharist under the roof of our mouth.
As we prepare to receive Holy Communion, let us ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, to grant us the gift of humility, the gift of faith, and we too will give the reverence and respect to the Eucharist, which St. Paul attempted to help the Corinthians live.
[1] Jerusalem Bible Footnote H.