The Solemnity of Corpus Christi
 
Bread Broken and Shared - Share your riches with one another
Archbishop Oswald Gomis appeals "Respect the Sacredness of Life"
 
The Solemnity of the Corpus Christi was celebrated in the City of Colombo
on Sunday 10th June 2007 at St. Lucia's Cathedral, Kotahena.
His Grace the Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis, the Archbishop of Colombo presided at the solemn celebration together with His Lordship Bishop Marius Peiris, the Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo, and with the Episcopal Vicars Very Rev. Fr. Ivan Perera and Very Rev. Fr. Augustine Fernando.

Parish Priest of the Cathedral, Rev. Fr. Tony Martyn together with the Assistant Parish Priests, Pastoral Council and the parishioners, had made the arrangements for the solemn procession to proceed through the streets of Kotahena and for the solemn blessing which was imparted by His Grace the Archbishop Gomis at the Cathedral.

Kotahena streets were packed with people and inspite of the drizzle at the beginning of the procession, Rev. Fathers and the Religious, the faithful proceeded ahead to participate in this prayerful gathering to celebrate the solemnity of the Corpus Christi.

Archbishop Oswald Gomis in his strongly worded homily appealed to the nation and to everyone concerned, to respect the sacredness of human life. During the past few past months people in Sri Lanka have been threatened with the increasing number of disappearances, kidnappings, assasinations and violence of every form.

He said,"My dear brothers and sisters the time has come for us to set the example in our country. You know the realities and the signs of our time. How much we are in conflict and in the throes of destruction mutually destroying each other. The so-called ethnic conflict and the war have led to so much of disaster. Today, whoever may be the criminals, we are all experiencing terror and tyranny. Today it is one group and tomorrow it could be another. On the other hand there is crime rampant not only in the war zones but all over the country. People seem to have lost all sense of morality and ethical values. Families are slaughtered and people are threatened. All this shows that the sacredness of life has become a myth. Money and power have become the key factors of our socio-economic fabric. We condemn all forms of violence whether it comes from the north or the south. But a simple condemnation does not do. Especially we as Christians must remember that we as human beings are brothers and sisters and among us there is neither Jew nor Greek. Our race and caste is an accidental factor. Our essence is humanity. Therefore let us forget all those factors and stand up in defense of human values. We have to take the lead to treat each other as equals whether we are Sinhala, Tamil or any other. The Bible in the book of Exodus tells us "You must not molest the stranger or oppress him, for you lived as strangers in the land of Egypt." (Ex 22:21) It is wrong to harass innocent people whatever may be your position or the power you yield. In this context we happily commend the determination of the judiciary to stop the forcible eviction of youth from Colombo.

" Do not work for food that cannot last, but work for food that endures to eternal life." [John 6/27]

"If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever : and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." [John 6/51]
 
The Solemnity of the Corpus Christi in the City of Colombo
on Sunday 10th June 2007 at St. Lucia's Cathedral, Kotahena.
Solemn procession was started from the Cathedral
Procession proceeding through the streets of Kotahena
His Lordship Bishop Marius Peiris imparting the blessing at the first repository
To whom shall we go, for you have the words of eternal life
O Lord, Bless our nation to live peace and love
Young and old and children very devotely and earnestly participated
Episcopal Vicar for Tamil Apostolate Very Rev. Fr. Augustine Fernando
Episcopal Vicar for Western Region & Education Very Rev. Fr. Ivan Perera
Amidst of terror and violence, everyone begged for Lord's mercy
Streets of Kotahena were packed with the faithful
His Grace the Archbishop Oswald Gomis preaching at the Cathedral
Solemn Benediction by His Grace the Archbishop
 

Homily Preached By His Grace the Archbishop Oswald Gomis

A gift that a person gives at the end of his or her life is the most precious that the parting person could give. It may not be the most valuable in terms of money but certainly it is the most precious in terms of loving sentiment. It could be just a pin, but it could be something most symbolic that signifies his love.

The gift of the Eucharist is Christ’s parting gift to us. Thus it is the most precious gift of all He has given us and it signifies the immense love of Christ for us. In fact he prepared us for this gift with his discourse on love. The gospel of St. John shows this very clearly. Just before the Last Supper the Lord delivers his farewell discourse and he concludes it with the words – “I give you a new commandment; love one another; just as I have loved you, you also must love one another, By this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples.
 
And of what does this gift comprise? It is the dearest that a person could give and given in the manner that could establish the most intimate union between him and us. The gift is his own body and blood to be our food; and food is that which integrates into us most intimately and in fact becomes part of our own being while at the same time makes our own being become part of it. The most intimate connection a person could have with any external object is what he has with his own food and drink.

The body and blood of Christ is that which was offered for us as a sacrifice of love. And that means for the love of us Christ had to offer his body and blood in the most ignominious and cruel manner on a cross. And for what reason but for the love of us – to save us from sin and pave the way for us to go the abode of the Father. The price he thus paid is not something that could be valued in terms of silver and gold but it is in essence his very life in its totality.

We all know that love begets love. Love calls for reciprocation. We see this daily in our lives. Any living creature is responsive to love, except perhaps a very few cruel human beings in today’s society. Latest research has shown us that even plants respond to love and concern. We can see this in our daily lives with the pets we have at home – how much they respond to our kindness. And the best example of this was shown to us by St. Francis of Assisi who had a brother wolf and the birds came and rested on him.

Thus my dear brothers and sisters if even an animal knows to respond to love just of the receipt of a peace of meat should we not respond to the love of the man who gave his own body and blood as our food and drink? Should we not respond to the love of the person who died for us because of his love for us? Should we not return the love of the person who renounced his divinity for a moment, as the Epistle to the Hebrews states, and became man for our sake? Should we not respond in love to the person who in absolute humility took upon himself the ignominy of the cross and became obedient even unto death? Yes my dear brothers and sisters, if we are Christians and if we truly live the faith that we confess with our lips that response of love is inevitable.

And what does that love really mean? It is not just a sentiment. St. John says “If a man who was rich in this world’s goods saw that one or his brothers was in need, but closed his heart to him, how could the love of God be living in him? My children our love is not to be just words or mere talk but something real and active” (1 Jn 17-18). So, we see that it is love that characterizes a disciple of Christ. “By this shall men know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” 

My dear brothers and sisters this love is not only something of sentiment but something more. And often we think that it is purely helping others with some alms, a little money or food or some used clothing. No it is much more. All those things are good but love is far beyond that. It first and foremost needs a deep concern on our part for each other. And this is perhaps the most demanding role of charity. It is easy to dole out some money or to throw out some old clothes or a worn out pair of shoes to a poor man. But when it comes to dealing with persons we are always very selective and often even vindictive. The basic trait of our culture – the craving to be better than the rest (in the wrong sense of course!) - lend easily to envy and jealousy.  And this easily destroys love and mutual reverence. We will look for all the differences that could differentiate us and place us high above the others – our caste, race and even colour. This is not Christianity.

The time has come for us Catholics to set the example in our country. You know the realities and the signs of our time. How much we are in conflict and in the throes of destruction, mutually destroying each other. The so-called ethnic conflict and the war have led to so much of disaster. Today, whoever may be the criminals, we are all experiencing terror and tyranny. Today it is one group and tomorrow it could be another. On the other hand there is crime rampant not only in the war zones but all over the country. People seem to have lost all sense of morality and ethical values. Families are slaughtered and people are threatened. All this shows that the sacredness of life has become a myth. Money and power have become the key factors of our socio-economic fabric. We condemn all forms of violence whether it comes from the north or the south. But a simple condemnation does not do. Especially we as Christians must remember that we as human beings are brothers and sisters and among us there is neither Jew nor Greek. Our race and caste is an accidental factor. Our essence is humanity. Therefore let us forget all those factors and stand up in defense of human values.  We have to take the lead to treat each other as equals whether we are Sinhala, Tamil or any other. The Bible in the book of Exodus tells us “You must not molest the stranger or oppress him, for you lived as strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Ex 22:21) It is wrong to harass innocent people whatever may be your position or the power you yield. In this context we happily commend the determination of the judiciary to stop the forcible eviction of youth from Colombo.

Our Eucharistic Lord came down on earth to love and that love first generated forgiveness. To use his own words - In teaching his disciples to pray he said “Forgive us our sins as we forgive them who sin against us.” On the cross he said “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” It is to obtain this forgiveness for our sins that the Lord paid with his life. So, if we believe in Christ and want to respond to his love let us be the first to forgive each other and forget the past especially of our national conflicts and advocate a new beginning whereby we could build trust and confidence in each other.

If we as Christians could do this we will be the catalyst community to usher a new era of peace and prosperity in this beautiful island of ours now ravages by sorrow and grief.   

Maintained by Rev. Fr. Sunil De Silva - E-mail : sunilde@sltnet.lk
ARCHDIOCESE OF COLOMBO - SRI LANKA