Corpus Christi
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII, Cycle B
Theme For The Day
The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and its meaning for us.
Old Testament Lesson
Exodus 24:3-8
Covenant Community
Here is the "tradition of the sacrament of the renewal of the covenant in the period of the judges at Shechem," according to The Interpreter's One Volume Commentary on the Bible. There is the affirmation of the terms of the agreement (v. 3b) as a part of the ritual. The blood is thrown on the altar showing God's presence and on the people as those who take part in the deal. This tradition may be depicting the ceremony of receiving new members into the community.
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 9:11-15
Jesus Is The Perfect Sacrifice
The themes of blood and covenant continue. This time it's Jesus as perfect sacrifice whose blood was shed for our sins. Verses 13-14 make the point that if the blood of animals make those unpure, pure; think how much more Christ's blood sanctifies us!
William Barclay explains that the writer of Hebrews always had three things in mind: 1) Religion is access to God; 2) this world is only a place of imperfect copies; and 3) there can be no religion without sacrifice. Our uncleanness must somehow be cleansed.
So the writer makes the point in this passage that Jesus is the only High Priest who can bring people to God. His sacrifice, which opens the way to God, is himself.
The Gospel
Mark 14:12-16, 22-26
The Passover And Lord's Supper
Verses 12-16 are Mark's account of the disciples preparing for Passover in the upper room and then verses 22-26 describe the institution of the Lord's supper.
The sending of the disciples to the upper room can be regarded as Jesus' pre-arrangement or as a carrying out of a providential plan only known to Jesus. I favor the former for the sake of preaching this text.
The main event of this last supper is the institution of the Lord's Supper. (See, also, 1 Corinthians 11:23-24.) It is in John 6:52-58 that the full significance is attached to this event. In the other Gospels, the supper is viewed as eschatological and will be repeated after the coming of the Kingdom. Key to this festival of Corpus Christi are the words, "This is my body." It can be interpreted many ways such as "real presence" or purely symbolic.
Verse 24 gives us the insight of the body of Christ as a ransom beginning a new covenant (see Exodus 24:8). Many scholars believe that drinking of blood was such a distasteful idea to Jews that this account of Mark's arose in Gentile Christianity and here is chronologically out of place. Luke omits the reference to the wine as blood.
Verse 25 shows an expectation of the coming of the kingdom shortly after Jesus' death. Matthew's adding "with you" helps it be more understandable (Matthew 26:29).
Preaching Possibilities
One theme today could be covenant: the covenant of the Jews in the Old Testament Lesson ... the covenant of the High Priest Jesus in Hebrews ... and the covenant with (the) disciples in the Gospel of Mark. We have a deal which is the best of all and we celebrate our covenant with the Eucharist. Another approach would be to give a teaching sermon on the ways Christians have interpreted the body and blood of Jesus: As a memorial to what Christ did for us on the cross, as a reminder of his sacrifice, and as a celebration of his still really being with us in his real body and blood.
I will present this latter idea not as ideas that divide us with all except ours being wrong but, rather, as different views of the sacrament, which enrich out appreciation of it. It is my belief that our presentation of the significance of the Eucharist should not divide us disciples but, rather, be the victory banquet around which we are united in our relationship with God and each other.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
Please see my suggestions on page 87 for preaching on Maundy Thursday, which duplicate the Eucharistic focus. Following is yet another approach.
A. Introduction: Tell of the origin of the Feast of Corpus Christi beginning in Liege, France, in 1246, based on nun Juliana of Mount-Cornillion. It was so well received in Europe that Pope Urban IV made it a universal celebration each First Sunday after Trinity Sunday in the church year.
In most places there is a solemn procession where the host is adored and shown its proper respect.
In one sense it duplicates the Maundy Thursday communion focus and in another sense it reminds us of the sacred, the promise, the presence, and our fellowship because of this real body of Christ.
B. Now read the text: Mark 14:22-25.
C. Move to what this sacrament means to those upper room disciples.
1. Their leader, Jesus, would himself have to go to the cross to be their sacrifice for sin.
2. Jesus would keep his promises to be with them in a very scary time. Each time they ate this bread it was him bodily still present with them.
3. The new covenant would be celebrated every time they took the bread and wine. No longer are we judged on our keeping the laws of God. Now we have grace forgiveness undeserved because of Jesus offering his body on the cross. It was once and for all times.
4. This was a ritual they ought do often so as to keep unified with Christ and with each other.
D. Move to what it means for us:
1. This is where and how we celebrate forgiveness of our sins.
2. This is a meal where and when we show profound reverence and respect for our God.
3. In this way Jesus keeps his promise to be with us now and here.
4. Like the early disciples we gather around the Lord's table not only to love God, but also to love each other.
E. Return to the history of the Corpus Christi Feast.
After 1,200 years of celebrating the Eucharist, Nun Juliana of Mount Cornillion thought we Christians ought be even more respectful of the body of Christ and so the feast of Corpus Christi was begun. A few years later, Pope Urban IV added his support. Now we continue to worship, marvel, and respect the Christ's real presence with us. The Germans use the word Fronleiehnam to describe the observance.
F. Add your witness as to how you will try to be more respectful of the body of Christ and challenge others to join you in the new effort.
Prayer For The Day
We thank you, dear God, for this Feast of Corpus Christi begun by a nun and a pope. But we are even more in awe and reverence today for the institution of Holy Communion by Jesus himself in that upper room in Jerusalem. As we take his body into our mouths, let it be with deep respect and gratitude for the gracious forgiveness, fellowship, and presence he provides us. In Christ's name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
I stood in the aisle of Saint Peter Church, Monrovia, Liberia, and inquired as to the fate of my former students and pastors observing the horrible bloody civil and tribal war. We were there to consecrate the new Bishop Sumoward Harris. Finally the old Pastor Bypu said of my inquiries: "Some have starved, others beheaded, others died of fright. But today when we gather for the bread and wine, they will all be here." And later on they were. Now that is the communion of Saints.
At Afton Alps ski area, approximately fifty feet from the end of the chair lift is the sign "Prepare to Unload," and then at the end, "Unload Here." We could erect such signs in the aisles of our church sanctuaries. And at the communion rail "Unload Here," for all our sins may be dumped there. In worship we unload in preparation for starting over.
See "Possible Metaphors And Stories" on pages 87-88 of this book under suggestions for Maundy Thursday.
In Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, we hear the words, "I hold you as a thing enskied and sainted." (Enskied means heavenly.)
The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and its meaning for us.
Old Testament Lesson
Exodus 24:3-8
Covenant Community
Here is the "tradition of the sacrament of the renewal of the covenant in the period of the judges at Shechem," according to The Interpreter's One Volume Commentary on the Bible. There is the affirmation of the terms of the agreement (v. 3b) as a part of the ritual. The blood is thrown on the altar showing God's presence and on the people as those who take part in the deal. This tradition may be depicting the ceremony of receiving new members into the community.
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 9:11-15
Jesus Is The Perfect Sacrifice
The themes of blood and covenant continue. This time it's Jesus as perfect sacrifice whose blood was shed for our sins. Verses 13-14 make the point that if the blood of animals make those unpure, pure; think how much more Christ's blood sanctifies us!
William Barclay explains that the writer of Hebrews always had three things in mind: 1) Religion is access to God; 2) this world is only a place of imperfect copies; and 3) there can be no religion without sacrifice. Our uncleanness must somehow be cleansed.
So the writer makes the point in this passage that Jesus is the only High Priest who can bring people to God. His sacrifice, which opens the way to God, is himself.
The Gospel
Mark 14:12-16, 22-26
The Passover And Lord's Supper
Verses 12-16 are Mark's account of the disciples preparing for Passover in the upper room and then verses 22-26 describe the institution of the Lord's supper.
The sending of the disciples to the upper room can be regarded as Jesus' pre-arrangement or as a carrying out of a providential plan only known to Jesus. I favor the former for the sake of preaching this text.
The main event of this last supper is the institution of the Lord's Supper. (See, also, 1 Corinthians 11:23-24.) It is in John 6:52-58 that the full significance is attached to this event. In the other Gospels, the supper is viewed as eschatological and will be repeated after the coming of the Kingdom. Key to this festival of Corpus Christi are the words, "This is my body." It can be interpreted many ways such as "real presence" or purely symbolic.
Verse 24 gives us the insight of the body of Christ as a ransom beginning a new covenant (see Exodus 24:8). Many scholars believe that drinking of blood was such a distasteful idea to Jews that this account of Mark's arose in Gentile Christianity and here is chronologically out of place. Luke omits the reference to the wine as blood.
Verse 25 shows an expectation of the coming of the kingdom shortly after Jesus' death. Matthew's adding "with you" helps it be more understandable (Matthew 26:29).
Preaching Possibilities
One theme today could be covenant: the covenant of the Jews in the Old Testament Lesson ... the covenant of the High Priest Jesus in Hebrews ... and the covenant with (the) disciples in the Gospel of Mark. We have a deal which is the best of all and we celebrate our covenant with the Eucharist. Another approach would be to give a teaching sermon on the ways Christians have interpreted the body and blood of Jesus: As a memorial to what Christ did for us on the cross, as a reminder of his sacrifice, and as a celebration of his still really being with us in his real body and blood.
I will present this latter idea not as ideas that divide us with all except ours being wrong but, rather, as different views of the sacrament, which enrich out appreciation of it. It is my belief that our presentation of the significance of the Eucharist should not divide us disciples but, rather, be the victory banquet around which we are united in our relationship with God and each other.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
Please see my suggestions on page 87 for preaching on Maundy Thursday, which duplicate the Eucharistic focus. Following is yet another approach.
A. Introduction: Tell of the origin of the Feast of Corpus Christi beginning in Liege, France, in 1246, based on nun Juliana of Mount-Cornillion. It was so well received in Europe that Pope Urban IV made it a universal celebration each First Sunday after Trinity Sunday in the church year.
In most places there is a solemn procession where the host is adored and shown its proper respect.
In one sense it duplicates the Maundy Thursday communion focus and in another sense it reminds us of the sacred, the promise, the presence, and our fellowship because of this real body of Christ.
B. Now read the text: Mark 14:22-25.
C. Move to what this sacrament means to those upper room disciples.
1. Their leader, Jesus, would himself have to go to the cross to be their sacrifice for sin.
2. Jesus would keep his promises to be with them in a very scary time. Each time they ate this bread it was him bodily still present with them.
3. The new covenant would be celebrated every time they took the bread and wine. No longer are we judged on our keeping the laws of God. Now we have grace forgiveness undeserved because of Jesus offering his body on the cross. It was once and for all times.
4. This was a ritual they ought do often so as to keep unified with Christ and with each other.
D. Move to what it means for us:
1. This is where and how we celebrate forgiveness of our sins.
2. This is a meal where and when we show profound reverence and respect for our God.
3. In this way Jesus keeps his promise to be with us now and here.
4. Like the early disciples we gather around the Lord's table not only to love God, but also to love each other.
E. Return to the history of the Corpus Christi Feast.
After 1,200 years of celebrating the Eucharist, Nun Juliana of Mount Cornillion thought we Christians ought be even more respectful of the body of Christ and so the feast of Corpus Christi was begun. A few years later, Pope Urban IV added his support. Now we continue to worship, marvel, and respect the Christ's real presence with us. The Germans use the word Fronleiehnam to describe the observance.
F. Add your witness as to how you will try to be more respectful of the body of Christ and challenge others to join you in the new effort.
Prayer For The Day
We thank you, dear God, for this Feast of Corpus Christi begun by a nun and a pope. But we are even more in awe and reverence today for the institution of Holy Communion by Jesus himself in that upper room in Jerusalem. As we take his body into our mouths, let it be with deep respect and gratitude for the gracious forgiveness, fellowship, and presence he provides us. In Christ's name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
I stood in the aisle of Saint Peter Church, Monrovia, Liberia, and inquired as to the fate of my former students and pastors observing the horrible bloody civil and tribal war. We were there to consecrate the new Bishop Sumoward Harris. Finally the old Pastor Bypu said of my inquiries: "Some have starved, others beheaded, others died of fright. But today when we gather for the bread and wine, they will all be here." And later on they were. Now that is the communion of Saints.
At Afton Alps ski area, approximately fifty feet from the end of the chair lift is the sign "Prepare to Unload," and then at the end, "Unload Here." We could erect such signs in the aisles of our church sanctuaries. And at the communion rail "Unload Here," for all our sins may be dumped there. In worship we unload in preparation for starting over.
See "Possible Metaphors And Stories" on pages 87-88 of this book under suggestions for Maundy Thursday.
In Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, we hear the words, "I hold you as a thing enskied and sainted." (Enskied means heavenly.)
