Reverend Larry Silva, Bishop | Diocese of Honolulu

On June 2, 2024, a homily was delivered for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). The bishop began by drawing parallels to moments in life when shocking news leaves a lasting impression, such as the sudden death of a family member or learning about acts of terrorism.

He recounted how Jesus said something profoundly shocking during the Last Supper. This Passover meal, celebrated for centuries to commemorate God's liberation of Jews from Egyptian slavery, took an unexpected turn when Jesus passed bread and wine to his disciples, saying, "This is my body," and "This is my blood." The bishop noted that this must have been confusing and alarming for the disciples: “What do you mean, ‘This is my body? This is my blood?’ These are merely bread and wine.”

The bishop emphasized that while some followers were scandalized and left Jesus after hearing these words, others believed without fully understanding. He urged reflection on how shocking those words must have been initially.

Today, he observed, people may no longer find these words surprising because they hear them often during Mass. He questioned whether congregants allow themselves to be sufficiently shocked by the transformation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. He remarked on the miracle happening before their eyes—Jesus Christ becoming physically present as food and drink.

The homily continued with a call to recognize this miracle anew during Corpus Christi. The bishop explained that processions taking Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament into the streets are not mere religious acts but involve carrying a living person—Jesus Christ. He suggested that miracles similar to those performed by Jesus could occur today.

In closing, he highlighted another startling truth: through this sacrament, sinners become members of Jesus’ living Body. This enables believers to continue His ministry of healing and reconciliation. The bishop lamented that many view the Eucharist as boring or obligatory. He encouraged rediscovering the original shock experienced by the disciples at the Last Supper to reignite passion for frequent participation in Mass.