We may not know this as Catholics because we have grown up along with Protestant churches in our country, but the real presence of Christ’s body and blood were never questioned until the Protestant Reformation. For 1500 years of Christianity, the Eucharist was seen as the real presence of Jesus, never a symbol. It is the sacrament that our lives revolve around, this is what we believe!

The solemnity we celebrate today of Corpus Christi, the most holy Body and Blood of Jesus, is meant to remind us of what we believe, and it predates the reformation by 300 years. At each and every Mass, Christ’s Body and Blood are consumed by us as a new Christian Passover. In this Eucharistic meal we consume the Lamb of God, to strengthen us on this journey of life. Like the Passover of Israel, we are freed from slavery to sin and death, like Israel we must then travel through the desert of this world relying on God’s own Body and Blood to sustain us.

If we struggle with this, all we need to do is look at Scripture, the end of John chapter 6, or all the Last Super accounts. If we still struggle, delve into the world of Eucharistic miracles. Doubt in faith must be addressed, never left to fester, lest it weaken our faith.

From the readings this weekend we first have the account of Melchizedek, a mysterious priest that offers bread and wine and is a priest of peace, he appears to offer sacrifice and then is not heard from again. Was this perhaps Jesus? Or at the very least a figure that points to Him.

In our Gospel this weekend, with the feeding of five thousand, we see that God’s power to provide is not limited to the physics of this world. His grace is sufficient! At every Mass said throughout the world, every day, millions are fed Christ’s Body and Blood. May this be the food we rely on to keep us moving towards our eternal home!

May the Love, Peace and Grace of God be with you,

Fr. Adam