Corpus Christi Sunday ‘C’

The last two wonderful gifts Jesus gave us before He died were the Holy Eucharist - spiritual food for our souls, given on Holy Thursday - and His own mother Mary, whom He gave to us as our spiritual Mother on Good Friday. The Feast of Corpus Christi celebrates Jesus’ loving presence with us in the Eucharist. "Corpus Christi" means "Body of Christ," and this feast is a special time for us to thank Jesus for staying with us in the form of bread and wine.

This celebration reminds us how special the Eucharist is. It helps us learn more about the belief that Jesus is truly present - Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity—in the bread and wine we receive at Mass. This is called the “Real Presence.”

Why do we believe this? Jesus promised His presence in the Eucharist, especially after He fed thousands of people with a small amount of food. At the Last Supper, He gave His disciples bread and wine and said, “This is my body, this is my blood,” and He told them to do this in memory of Him.

To explain how this happens, we use the word “transubstantiation.” This means that although the bread and wine look and taste the same, God changes their inner reality into Jesus’ Body and Blood, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Bible readings for this feast are about covenants—agreements between God and His people. In the past, people made covenants using the blood of animals. But Jesus started a new agreement with us and sealed it with His own blood when He died on the Cross.

In the First Reading, Moses uses the blood of animals to seal God’s covenant with the Israelites.

In the Second Reading, St. Paul says that Jesus ended the need for animal sacrifices by giving His own life and blood.

In the Gospel, Jesus takes this old tradition and transforms it. Instead of animal blood, He gives us His body and blood, telling us to eat and drink, saying, “This is my body… This is my blood.”

The Eucharist is both a meal and a sacrifice:

• As a meal, it feeds our souls.
• As a sacrifice, it makes present Jesus’ offering of Himself on the Cross for our forgiveness.

Every time we celebrate Mass, we take part in this sacrifice and receive God’s grace and life.

Let us show our love and respect for Jesus in the Eucharist by preparing ourselves well, being sorry for our sins, and receiving Him with reverence. By doing this, we become like Mary – we carry Jesus inside us. We are then called to bring Christ’s love, kindness, and forgiveness to others in our homes, workplaces, and everywhere we go.