Jn. 6:51-58  “Whoever eats of this bread will live forever.”

Today we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi, the memorial of the Body and Blood of Christ given for the life of the world. Jesus’ discourse of this surrender is scandalous to the Jews and to anyone who takes his words at face value. How can it give us his flesh to eat? In the context of today’s Gospel we understand that Jesus speaks to us of how the intimate relationship with Him, communion with His Body and Blood, is what gives us true life; just as for Him the relationship with His Father was the bread that always nourished Him: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me”; so too for us communion with Jesus is the true bread that helps us to live meaningfully and to give ourselves with all our hearts.