The Gospel for this Sunday is Luke 9:11b-17
1. A greater miracle than the multiplication of the loaves
The description of the multiplication of bread is very touching. Those who have followed Jesus to the place of his prayer, in the wilderness, and have listened to Jesus’ words all day, do not have to leave hungry in the evening. Jesus gives them all bread and fish.
Now this is a miracle, but this miracle is only a foreshadowing of the greatest miracle in the history of the world. Jesus wants to give us so much more. He wants to give us Himself.
2. Keywords
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, Jesus said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.
Jesus looks up to heaven, turning to the Father. He blesses and breaks the bread, and the disciples distribute it to everyone. The same is true of the Eucharist – the greatest of miracles. Jesus Himself is the bread. The Father gives us the Son in the mystery of “breaking the bread”: the Cross, the Death, and Resurrection of Jesus.
This miracle lasts all through time and will last forever until the end of the world. Every baptized person has the opportunity to be so close to Jesus that he becomes physically present in his body.
They all ate and were satisfied
You can choose not to come to Jesus and not let yourself be fed. It is possible to pretend that there is no hunger for God within us. You can refuse to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, even when you are at Mass. But those who do come to Jesus, receive a gift unimaginable: spiritual and physical union with Jesus himself.
Everyone can satiate their spiritual hunger and draw strength for the rest of their lives. Just like the people in the Gospel account who, out of the wilderness, went on home to others. They probably talked about what had happened.
The Eucharist is such a beautiful miracle that we cannot keep it to ourselves. That is why, on the feast of Corpus Christi, we proclaim what happens: that Jesus is present in the Eucharist, in every church, and he is present in us when we receive him in Holy Communion.
We share this joy as we take to the streets in processions with Jesus. The name of today’s feast, Corpus Christi, just means Body of Christ. It is a joyful celebration of Christ’s presence among us.
3. Today
Saint Faustina, who had the gift of seeing and talking to Jesus, said that Jesus is very sad when people receive Him like ordinary bread, with no faith, and not as it really is – as the Body of Christ.
How do I receive Jesus in Holy Communion? How do I express my gratitude to God for this gift? How do I share this joy with others?
