The Body and Blood of Christ - Year C

This weekend we hear St Luke’s account of the feeding of the five thousand. This story is also known as the feeding of the multitude. It is the only miracle – apart from Jesus’ resurrection - which is recorded in all four gospels. This indicates that the miracle was highly significant for those early Christians. Its significance lies in the obvious Eucharistic symbolism threaded into the story; he took…looked up to heaven…blessed and broke…and gave. This indirect reference indicates that a Eucharistic theology was central to Christian practice and belief. We can see that very early on in the life of the Church, the last supper and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross became inextricably linked, giving birth to the fundamentals of our belief in the Eucharistic today. This early belief is very much evidenced in the 2nd reading today – “Until the Lord comes, therefore, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming his death”.

Thus, every time we celebrate the Mass we enter again into the offering of Christ on the cross and proclaim his life-giving death and resurrection. Jesus’ love, his offering up of himself and the gift of his-self is laid before us. What a marvellous and truly beautiful thing this is. I wonder how much we truly appreciate, understand and value this amazing gift? My guess is that it’s easy to become uninterested and unmoved when it comes to receiving Holy Communion; it can become just another routine.

So, this solemnity of The Body and Blood of Christ serves as an important reminder as to how blessed and privileged we are to be sharing in the abiding presence and love of the Lord in and through the gift of the Eucharist. Let’s pray that we may grow in spiritual understanding so that the fruits of Jesus’ saving love will fill our hearts with joy!

Let us also pray this weekend for the children who made their First Holy Communion on Saturday morning. May they grow closer to Jesus and in understanding of their faith, that they may become firm and faithful members of our parish community, helping us all grow together in faith, hope and love.

Have a good week,

Fr Brett