The Feast of Corpus Christi -the Body and Blood of Christ

"For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed." John 6:56 DR.

Catholics hold that at the consecration during celebration of the Eucharist, bread and wine are changed into the actual Body and Blood of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. The appearances and properties of the bread and wine remain, but their "substance" -the stuff that made them what they were- no longer exists. What remains is Jesus Himself, actually and bodily present, but hidden under the appearances of bread and wine. There are many reasons why He chose to do this for us, but all the reasons boil down to His love for us and for His Father.

We know that appearances can be deceiving, and never is that more true than in the Eucharist. But why should God wish to deceive us by concealing Himself beneath the appearances of bread and wine?

He certainly doesn't wish to deceive, but rather to reveal the truth to us in the clearest possible way. Jesus is looking for followers who will trust His testimony more than the testimony of their own senses.

"I am the light of the world: he that followeth me, walketh not in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12 DR.
"...God is light, and in him there is no darkness." 1 John 1:5 DR.

Those who believe in Jesus more than they believe their own senses are illuminated by the light that Jesus brings. This light illuminates wonderful truths imperceptible to the senses but knowable by faith.

Today Catholics especially give thanks to Jesus for making Himself present to us in the Eucharist every day all over the world. We can come to Him, receive Him, eat His Flesh and drink His Blood, uniting ourselves to Him spiritually and bodily.

How great a privilege it is to receive the gift of faith which allows one to firmly believe and know this invisible yet stupendous truth: that He is with us... not only spiritually but in the Flesh, His Body and Blood mingled with our own in a daily or weekly renewal of His pledge of everlasting life.