SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

Who is credited with saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away?” I will give you a clue:  He was not a president, but his face is on the bill that every pastor likes to see in the collection basket, the 100-dollar bill.

That’s right; I’m talking about Ben Franklin.

Even though Ben Franklin did not know it at the time, apples have vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber which have been shown to lower blood pressure, strengthen the respiratory and nervous system and prevent cancer. This smart food, the apple, also helps you think more clearly and sharply.

What are other smart foods?

Blueberries, dark leafy greens, spinach, salmon, sardines and herring, red wine, whole grains and brown rice, almonds and walnuts, olive oil, garlic, and dark chocolate.

It is the smart foods that we eat every day plus the smart liquids we drink that become part of our bodies, sustaining and nourishing us, to grow healthy and strong. On the food chain list, the Eucharist can truly be considered a “smart food.” 

If it is true that “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” then it is equally true to say, “The Eucharist a day keeps evil away.” 

I would also add the “five loaves and two fishes” to the smart foods list.

Interestingly, Jesus never did explain how the five loaves and two fishes fed all those people. By the way, this miracle is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels, suggesting its importance in predicting the miracle of the Eucharist.

Today’s gospel tells us that it is late in the day, and the disciples know the people in the crowd are hungry. One of the disciples says to Jesus, “Dismiss the crowd so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves at a local fast-food restaurant.”

But Jesus challenges his disciples, “Give them some food yourself.”

This blunt statement had to be shocking to the disciples, “Give them some food yourselves.” Jesus isn’t suggesting. He is commanding them to feed the hungry. Jesus just put the disciples in a difficult spot when He commanded them to do what seemed impossible, feed a large and hungry crowd with inadequate food.

Doesn’t Jesus command the same thing for us? Aren’t we supposed to do the same thing? We are commanded to feed the hungry, not just with bread or fish, but also with companionship, love, respect and forgiveness. Like the disciples, we too are asked to do the seemingly impossible just as the disciples were commanded to do.

More than 25,000 people die of hunger each day, including on this Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. Two-thirds of them will be children. “Give them some food yourselves.”

• Every year, millions of children die of hunger. “Give them some food yourselves.”
• Every 12 seconds, someone dies of hunger. “Give them some food yourselves.”
• The World Health Organization estimates that one-third of the world is well fed, one third of the world is under-fed and one third of the world is starving. “Give them some food yourselves.”
• People in every country around the world are malnourished. “Give them some food yourselves.”
• Here in the United States, children in every state under the age of twelve go to bed hungry every night. “Give them some food yourselves.”

Give some food yourself, perhaps as simple as having some apples in your car and giving one to a homeless person as you ask them their name. Then say a private prayer of thanks for the many blessings in your life. Remember that the Greek word “Eucharist” means thanksgiving.

One of our religious education instructors was instructing the children about the importance of prayers before meals. She asked the children if they pray before eating. One student quickly raised his hand and said, “Oh, I never do that because my Ma is a great cook!” Fortunately, the teacher was sharp enough to respond, “It is because she is a good cook that you should say a prayer of thanksgiving before and after your meal.”

Give thanks to God for the smartest food of all: The Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ.