June 22, 2025; Luke 9:11-17; Corpus Christi
There is a banner hanging over our front door of our church which reads “Jesus is Here.” This is certainly a true statement. But in what sense is Jesus here? It certainly cannot be in an exclusive sense, as if we were saying that the only place that Jesus is present is here at Holy Angels Church. Jesus, as the risen Lord, sits at the right hand of the Father. Therefore, Jesus is present wherever God is present, and God is present everywhere.
So in what specific way is Jesus present here? The answer is that Jesus is present in a number of ways and they are interconnected with one another. The most sublime way that Jesus is present is in the consecrated bread and wine of the Eucharist. This is the mystery that we celebrate today on the Feast of Corpus Christi. Our belief that in the blessed sacrament, Jesus is present to us—body, blood, soul, and divinity. This is a mystery to be celebrated and adored.
But the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is inextricably connected to two other ways he is here: in the sacred scriptures and in our parish community. The bread and wine of the Eucharist is never consecrated without first proclaiming a passage from scripture. This is because we believe that Jesus truly speaks to us through the scriptures, and before we receive him in Holy Communion, we need to listen to his voice. Sometimes his voice is one of consolation, assuring us of God’s love. Other times, his voice is a challenge, calling us to act and serve our neighbor. For example, in today’s gospel, Jesus does not multiply the loaves and fishes just to perform a miracle. He does it because the crowds that follow him were hungry and they had no food. So today’s gospel tells us that, as we receive the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, we must be conscious of those in our world who lack food. As we receive the Bread of Life, we must recommit ourselves to provide bread for those who need it to survive.
Another way that Jesus is present here is in our parish community that gathers weekly to celebrate the Eucharist. The priest does not consecrate the bread and wine alone. His action is a communal action of the community over which he presides. So, the gift of the Eucharist is a communal gift. It is not given to us as individuals. When we receive the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, we act as a part of a community. Therefore, we must always be aware that we are connected to those who worship with us. The suffering, needs, joys, and dreams of the people who form this assembly are ours as well. As we receive the Body of Christ, we ourselves are the Body of Christ, joined to one another to form Christ’s body in our world.
So Jesus is here in the bread and wine of the Eucharist, in the sacred scriptures that at times console us and at times challenge us, and in one another because together we form the Body of Christ. It is only when we connect these three great mysteries of Christ together that we can begin to understand the depth of Christ’s love and how Jesus is truly here among us.
Beautiful!