Homily , June 7 , 2026
From The Pastor
Today’s feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is a theological feast that honors our faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. The feast developed early in the twelfth century. It was initiated into the universal calendar by Pope Urban IV in 1264. In truth, the feast has its true origins in the Old Testament that culminates in the institution of the Eucharist on Holy Thursday.
Wandering in the desert, the Israelites complained to Moses out of hunger and thirst for real food and real drink. They were weary, hungry, and afraid, losing hope in the reality of a Promised Land. God heard their plea and provided ‘bread from heaven’ that was unknown to the Israelites. It was unknown to them because it was only in the region of Sinai where they had traveled. Manna served two purposes. It became real bread, real food for the people in their hunger. It also reminded them of God’s promise to lead them to a promised land. This bread renewed their faith in the fidelity of God’s promise.
The real food of bread made from the manna anticipates of the living bread given in the Eucharist. Jesus is emphatic, “My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.” Taken too literally, those who heard these words of Jesus were disgusted at the thought of cannibalism. The literal and real meaning of Body and Blood reveals the life of Jesus received and consumed as Eucharist is indeed real food and drink.
The Body and Blood of Jesus, freely given through his sacrificial death on the Cross, is the food of love that reveals the truth of the living God incarnate in the Divine Son. The manna given by God to the Israelites was to satisfy their physical hunger as well as to revive their souls in the hope of God’s fidelity to his promise.
The Holy Eucharist is the fulfillment of God’s promise not only for a Messiah, but also for a communion of life with God here and now in anticipation of our eternal homeland in heaven. The gift of the Eucharist is the fruit and promise of the Incarnation. God needed a body to save humanity and all creation. God wanted to save us in the most personal way possible. The most personal way was to become one like us and with us in all things but sin. God, in the Incarnate Christ, showed us what is possible for all human beings who desire a share in the Divine life of God.
How is the Body and Blood of Jesus real food? The Holy Eucharist is the Bread of love realized in the broken body of Jesus given for us on the Cross. Love is real food. The body of Jesus, freely given, is the food of love that saves, heals, redeems, and makes us whole. Love is the nourishment that gives life.
The blood of Jesus is real drink. The life of Jesus was poured out in the shedding of blood that flowed from his bleeding body to wash away the sins of the world. The blood of Jesus, poured out for our sake, is real drink that nourishes us in the truth of divine love given for our sake.
Love is the truth of our existence as human beings. Human beings are dependent on the food of love to find any identity, meaning, or happiness in this life. Without love, human life is quite impossible. Love is in fact real food because it nourishes the human spirit, animates the human soul, while it heals and inspires human emotions for love, connection, and belonging.
Blood is life. The life of Jesus was a life of love poured out to give to the world the life God intends for us in union with Him. This is why the Eucharist is called Holy Communion. Receiving this communion of love with faith as real food given us in the dying and rising of Jesus feeds and strengthens our union with God through the body and blood.
The Eucharist is the real and true living presence of the Lord Jesus. It is not merely a symbol. The Eucharist is a relationship of love given by God, that heals, forgives, and redeems all who seek the truth of love. This gift was initiated by God, accomplished in Christ, which offers the world a constant nourishment of love. The Eucharist also fulfills the promise that Jesus would be with us always to the end of the age unto the glory of heaven.
If you hunger for love, healing, forgiveness, belonging, or communion with God and others, go to Mass, receive communion, and believe in the living presence of Jesus Christ in his Body and Blood. Allow the love of Christ to be your food and drink so you can be the food and drink of love for others.
Father John Esper
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