Homily for Corpus Christi Sunday, June 7, 2026. Gospel of St. John 6: 51-58 Theme: We Can’t Really Live Without Him!
Jesus’ words in today's Gospel are among the most startling words He ever spoke. They were so shocking that His listeners could hardly believe what they were hearing when He said, "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you." This was the breaking point for many of Christ’s disciples so they stopped following Him. But notice that Jesus didn’t back away from what He said. To the contrary, He repeated Himself again and again. He went on to emphasize in no uncertain terms that His flesh was indeed to be true food and blood true drink.
And then, as if that wasn't already enough for his disciples to absorb and take in, He added, "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him." Notice that Jesus didn’t say, "Whoever admires me," or "Whoever remembers me." Rather, He said “lives in Me” which speaks about an up close and personal relationship with each one of us. A union that is so intimate that He actually becomes part of us we actually become part of Him. The Risen Lord lives in us and we live in Him. His thoughts become our thoughts, His compassion becomes our compassion, and His life becomes our life pulsating through our spiritual veins, so to speak. This is why, as His Church, we are called what we truly become through the Eucharist: the Mystical Body of Christ.
To better understand this teaching, let’s think for a moment about ordinary food. In the natural order of things, what we eat becomes part of us. It nourishes us and sustains our life. But when it comes to the Food and Drink of the Eucharist, something totally different and more wonderful happens. That natural process is reversed and becomes a supernatural process. Christ takes us into Himself and we become part of him, we become what we eat! The more we mindfully partake of Holy Communion, the more we grow and become strong in the spiritual life because Christ lives in us!
But you know, the opposite is also true. We can stop having Christ live in us which will lead to spiritual death. How so? Because without regular feeding on the Flesh and Blood of the Eucharist, our faith weakens, our moral choices get blurry-eyed and we grow tired of following Jesus. If we deprive ourselves of this supernatural nourishment for too long a time, spiritual life is drained out of us and we will eventually find that we have fallen away from following Christ. I am sure that many of us have sadly seen the reality of this downhill dynamic happening among our own family and friends.
To keep us spiritually strong and united with Jesus is why the Eucharist stands at the center of our Catholic Faith. This is why the reception of Holy Communion is so very vital for us. This is why every single one of the saints without exception cherished the Eucharist so deeply. However, Holy Communion isn't something reserved only for those who are living a totally ideal Christian life! As the late Pope Francis never tired of reminding us, the Eucharist is not a reward for the perfect nor a gold star for good behavior. It's medicine for the spiritually sick and a remedy for sinners. It’s strength for the weak and healing balm for the wounded. And so, if we ever are tempted to think that we are not good enough to receive Jesus, then all we need to do is remember that accusations were heaped upon Him by “respectable and devout” people because He shared meals with tax collectors and prostitutes. They insulted Him by calling Him the “friend of sinners.” Well, we can find hope in the fact that it is still that very same Jesus who delights to come to us sinners in the Eucharist today!
As we approach the altar to receive Holy Communion on this feast of Corpus Christi, let us ask for three graces. First, a deeper faith in the Real Presence of the Lord in this Sacrament. Second, for a greater hunger and thirst for the Supernatural Food and Drink of the Eucharist. And third, that we open our hearts to conversion and be transformed by the One Whom we receive. And may the "Amen" that we say upon receiving the Consecrated Host be much more than just an habitual ritual response. May it be a heartfelt profession of faith by which we mean: "Lord, I believe. Remain in me, and help me to always remain in you."
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