Today we celebrate the beautiful feast of Corpus Christi, giving thanks to God for the gift of the Eucharist. Our 2nd reading today comes from St Paul’s letter to the Corinthians – one of the earliest texts in the New Testament written within 20 years or so of Jesus’ death and resurrection. This shows how it is this sacred celebration of the Eucharist which has brought Christians together from the Church’s earliest days, nourished them and strengthened them as disciples of Jesus. However, St Paul argues that not all in Corinth really value the Eucharist – how about us?

It is through this sacred meal that Jesus chose to make himself present to Christians of all times and places and so unite us with him and with each other. When you read the Gospel of Luke, it is amazing to note that almost every chapter has some mention of food or eating. You could almost say that Luke presents Jesus either going to a table, at a table or coming from a table! Even his cot as a new-born baby was a feeding trough borrowed from animals. As an adult there were meals and feasts of celebration, as in the house of Levi, the tax collector, or in the parable of the prodigal son. There were meals to relax with friends, such as with Martha, Mary and Lazarus. There were vast open-air picnics such as the feeding of the five thousand that we hear about in today’s Gospel. Jesus loved to invite himself to people’s houses for meals, where he was a guest who always brought more than he received. At various tables he brought pardon to the sinful woman, friendship and reconciliation to Zaccheus, and renewed faith to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. He gave much of his teaching at meals, challenging the pride of those who sought the places of honour at table and the hypocrisy of those who sought to exclude the poor and marginalised from their tables. Jesus continues to invite us to the table at every Eucharist where he teaches and transforms us with his Body and Blood so that we can become more like him. Come to the table!

With prayers & blessings - Fr Richard, Fr Ephrem & all the parish team
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