My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today’s Gospel reading from John chapter 6 presents us with a deeply meaningful message about the significance of the Eucharist in our lives as Catholics. This passage is one of the most significant and profound teachings of Jesus Christ and serves as a reminder of the miraculous nature of the Eucharist.

In this chapter, Jesus speaks to a crowd of people who had followed Him after He had performed a great miracle of feeding five thousand men with just five loaves of bread and two fish. The people were amazed by this miracle and sought to follow Jesus. However, Jesus, knowing that they were more interested in the physical food than the spiritual food that He was offering, challenged them to think more deeply about the meaning of this miracle.

He told them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35) These words reveal the true meaning of the miracle that Jesus had performed. He was not only providing physical sustenance but rather our Lord was offering Himself as the spiritual food that nourishes our souls.

Jesus goes on to say, “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you.” (John 6:54). These words have been difficult for many to understand, and even more difficult for some to accept. Jesus is not speaking metaphorically, He is speaking literally. He is offering His own body and blood as the true food and drink that will give us eternal life.

This is the foundation of the Catholic faith and the essence of the Eucharist. In the Holy Eucharist, we receive the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ Himself. We are united with Him in a profound and mystical way, and we are nourished by God’s grace and love.

We are called to approach the Eucharist with great reverence and devotion. We should prepare ourselves through prayer, fasting, and confession, so that we may receive the Lord with a pure and humble heart. The Eucharist is not a symbol or a memory, it is the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, and it should be treated with the utmost respect and adoration. This is why we receive the bread from the priest on the tongue instead of in the hands.

My dear brothers and sisters, let us remember the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel reading. He is the Bread of Life, and He offers us eternal nourishment through His body and blood. Let us approach the Eucharist with reverence and devotion, and let us be nourished by the grace and love of Jesus Christ.

God bless you +

Fr. Charles