This weekend, we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ. When Jesus was about to leave the world to return to his Father, he assured his followers, and us, that he would never leave us. Jesus instituted the Eucharist so that he would continue to be with us.  He asked that we ‘Do this in Memory of Me:’. In this way, Jesus is present at every Mass. He is very close to us.

At Mass, Jesus gives himself to us, as he did during his lifetime. We remember the story how Jesus, at the end of a tiring day, would not send his followers away hungry. He fed his people with five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus took the loaves and the fish, blessed, broke and gave them to the apostles to distribute to the people. In the hands of the apostles the bread kept on increasing.

The lesson that Jesus wants us to learn is that he constantly nourishes us with the bread of Life in the Mass. In today’s gospel story, Jesus repeats his act of giving when on Holy Thursday night, He took the bread, blessed, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me”. These words mean that at each Mass, Jesus changes the bread and wine into his Body and Blood.

Every Sunday we gather as a community to celebrate Mass together.  We listen to God’s word, we pray and are nourished in Holy Communion. Jesus wants us to continue living the Eucharist in our daily lives. In our giving to others, in our respect, through acts of kindness, generosity, and goodness we live the love of Jesus. It is our presence at Mass that strengthens us to prayer and to serve. That is what Jesus asks us to do when we are sent forth at the end of Mass.

From the Ennis Parish Newsletter, (Adapted)