Fr. Bob's Reflection for Corpus Christi Sunday - Guest Post

In 2019, the Pew Research Center conducted a survey of Catholic adults in the United States. Sadly, it found that 69 percent of the people polled did not believe in the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Even more concerning, 43 percent believed the bread and wine are only symbolic and mistakenly thought this reflected Church teaching. Another 22 percent knew the Church teaches transubstantiation, yet did not personally believe it. My friends, today we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi – which is Latin for “Body of Christ.” It is a fitting time to reflect more deeply on the Eucharist. The word “Eucharist” comes from the Greek word meaning “thanksgiving.” In many ways, Jesus’ entire life was a long act of thanksgiving: beginning in Bethlehem, revealed at the Last Supper and fulfilled on the cross. In today’s Gospel, Jesus introduces the gift of the Eucharist when He says, “I am the living bread that came down from Heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” He reminds His followers that this bread is unlike the manna their ancestors ate in the desert. Those who eat the living bread are offered eternal life. It is understandable that the mystery of the Eucharist can be difficult to fully grasp. Even the Apostles struggled to understand Jesus’ teaching about the Bread of Life. Yet their faith and trust in Him carried them forward until everything became clear at the Last Supper. It was at the Last Supper where Jesus fulfilled His promise. He offered His true Body and true Blood under the appearances of bread and wine. Today, centuries later, we are still invited to receive that same gift – the greatest gift God could ever give: His very Self. Each time we come to the altar, we stand in the presence of a God who loves us so deeply that He remains with us in the Eucharist. When we receive Holy Communion, we welcome the risen Christ into our very bodies. In that sacred moment, we become living tabernacles of His presence. There is no closer union with Jesus than in Holy Communion. We receive Him into ourselves and become one with Him. With the Eucharist, we bear Heaven inside of us. Mother Teresa put it beautifully when she said, “Once you understand the Eucharist, you can never leave the Church. Not because the Church won’t let you, but because your heart won’t let you.” My friends, I pray that each of you comes to experience Christ’s presence in the Eucharist more deeply. Let Holy Communion become necessary; an essential part of your life. Remember what Eucharist means, “thanksgiving,” and thank God for His greatest gift: His divine Son. The Son we encounter each time we come forward at Mass. The Son who heals, forgives and remains with us, no matter who we are or what we have done. If we truly desire a deeper relationship with Christ, there is no substitute for coming together to celebrate the Eucharist. From the earliest days of the Church, we gather as the Body of Christ to be fed by the Body of Christ. The Eucharist is the ultimate expression of God’s love for us. As Jesus Himself declared, “This is My body. This is My blood, given up for you.” And who among us would dare doubt the Lord? Yours in Christ, Fr. Robert Warren, S.A. Spiritual Director