SUNDAY REFLECTIONS | Corpus Christi Sunday

By Social Communications

Published on June 22, 2025

“This is my body… This is my blood…”

Today we celebrate one of the most profound and beautiful mysteries of our Catholic faith: the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as Corpus Christi.

At first glance, this might seem like just another Church feast — one of many throughout the liturgical year. But this one touches something at the very heart of who we are as Catholics. It takes us right to the center of our relationship with God, and with one another. It calls us to remember, to reflect, and to truly believe: that Jesus Christ is really, truly, and fully present in the Eucharist — not as a symbol, not as a reminder, but as a living reality.

The Gift of His Presence

When we come to Mass, we hear familiar words: “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body… Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood…” These are not just poetic words from a distant past. They are the very words of Jesus at the Last Supper — words He meant literally. And they are repeated in every Mass, because Jesus commanded it: “Do this in memory of me.”

But this “memory” is not just remembering something that happened long ago. In the language of Scripture and the Church, “memory” means to make present again. At every Mass, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is made present to us. Not repeated — but made present, here and now. And in that sacred moment, under the appearance of simple bread and wine, Jesus Himself is with us.

God Becomes Small, So We Can Receive Him

Think about how extraordinary this is. The same Jesus who walked on water, who healed the sick, who forgave sinners, who died and rose again — that Jesus comes to us in the most humble way imaginable. Hidden in the form of bread and wine. Why?

Because He wants to be close. Because love desires closeness.

In the Eucharist, God makes Himself small, so that no one is afraid to approach Him. So that anyone — the rich, the poor, the saint, the sinner — can receive Him. This is not just a holy symbol. It is God’s love made edible, so that He can enter not just our minds or our hearts, but our very bodies. He feeds us with Himself.

Our Response: Reverence and Relationship

The Eucharist is not something to be taken lightly. It is sacred. That’s why the Church invites us to prepare ourselves before receiving Communion — through prayer, examination of conscience, and even confession when needed. Not because God wants to scare us away, but because something this holy deserves our full attention, our reverence, and our love.

How do we approach the Eucharist? With routine? Or with awe? With casualness? Or with a heart that says, “Lord, I am not worthy, but only say the word…”?

This feast is a wake-up call to renew our love for Jesus in the Eucharist. To receive Him not just with our hands, but with our hearts.

The Eucharist Makes Us One

But Corpus Christi is not only about our personal relationship with Jesus. The Eucharist also draws us together as the Body of Christ, the Church. St. Paul writes, “Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body.” That means that when we receive the same Jesus in the Eucharist, we are united — not just to Him, but to each other.

This should change the way we live. It means we are called to forgive, to be patient, to care for each other, to stand with the poor and the suffering — because we are one family in Christ. The Eucharist strengthens us not only to worship, but to serve.

As St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist, and then we must go out and find Him in the poor, the lonely, the unloved.”

Adore Him, Live Him, Share Him

This feast is also a reminder that the Eucharist is not just something we receive — it is someone we can adore. That’s why many parishes have Eucharistic Adoration, where we sit in silence before the Blessed Sacrament. It may look like “just a piece of bread” — but in faith, we know it is Jesus looking at us with love.

When we adore Him, we are changed. Our hearts soften. Our worries calm. Our love deepens. And we are sent back into the world not just as individuals, but as living tabernacles, carrying Christ into our families, our workplaces, our schools, and our communities.

So today, as we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, let’s allow ourselves to be amazed again. Let’s return to the basics — and the deepest truth — of our faith: that God gives Himself to us, completely, in the Eucharist. He doesn’t hold back. He offers His Body and Blood, His soul and divinity — everything — for love of you.

Let us receive Him with gratitude, adore Him with reverence, and live Him with courage and joy.