Couple of years ago, I had an experience while in Africa, I happened to encounter an Anglican pastor who told me “You know brother, you Catholic Christians, you have three great things that make me always admire you.  First, you have the Holy Father the symbol of unity and Christian Catholic communion. Second, you have the Virgin Mary the mother of God himself and the mother of all humanity. And third, you have the Eucharist, the permanent presence of Jesus.”  He added, “Brother, those are facts that are undisputable.”

This led me to a very deep reflection, I entered into a very profound appreciation of my faith and understanding to be a Catholic.  As we celebrate this Solemnity: Corpus Christi, I think it’s right and fitting to reflect on the meaning, the importance and relevance of the Eucharist in our lives and faith as Christians. The permanent presence of God in our church in our life and in our faith as Catholic Christians.

The celebration of Corpus Christi invites you and I, to appreciate this great gift of Jesus himself remaining present among us, his choice and free will that he continued to be present among us in his true body and blood. How I wish and how wonderful it is that we always found time to encounter Jesus in his body and blood, to receive him, to contemplate him, to meditate him ,and to be with him. It is transforming to be with Jesus in the Eucharist, to adore him, to have some moment with him. And so today we are celebrating this solemnity of Jesus’ presence among us, his constant and permanent presence in our ministry, his constant awareness and company accompaniment of humanity.

This beautiful solemnity is something worthy of contemplating. The fact that Jesus is present amongst us, the fact that He is always in the Tabernacle there waiting for us, to come and adore him, and receive him, to contemplate and share with him, to be part of his being. This is a renewing and transforming experience for us Catholics. It’s no wonder that we are admired by those who don’t have him: we have the Eucharist, we have the mother of our Lord, we have the successor of Peter the symbol of unity and communion.

Vincent Otenio – Seminarian in Training