Bread and wine

Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ

Today’s gospel according to Mark, narrates the Last Supper episode. For us Christians, the Last Supper is important since the Eucharist has been instituted in this context. Today, Jesus is showing us the importance of preparing ourselves to receive the great gift of the Eucharist.

The feast of the Blessed Body and Blood of Jesus, or Corpus Christi, is not celebrated so that another procession might be added to our religious calendar or as an excuse for the children who celebrated their First Holy Communion to put on their First Communion dress again and parade around the parish streets. The aim of this feast is to make us reflect and ask with sincerity what the Eucharist really means to us. Jesus says: “This is my body … this is my blood.” The verb “is” shows that the bread and wine do change into Jesus’ body and blood. He did not use words “like” or “similar” but “is”. The consecration does not mean that the bread and wine become symbols of the body and blood of Jesus, but they really become his body and blood. We cannot understand how it happens. It is a miracle and miracles are a mystery. As we said last week, a mystery is not a secret God wishes to keep from us. Yet, with our limited minds it is not possible for us to understand fully what takes place. On the other hand we should not just accept it without trying to comprehend its significance. When we come to believe wholeheartedly that the host that we receive is truly Jesus, than our attitude and behaviour changes too.

It is indeed difficult to believe what you cannot see. These are a few ideas to help increase our faith that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.

  • Visit the Holy Sacrament and spend time there.
  • Ask for help. The father whose son was possessed asked this: “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9, 24). Make this your prayer, too.
  • Show reverence towards the Blessed Sacrament. Bow down or genuflect every time you pass in front of the Tabernacle.
  • Give your full attention during the consecration.
  • The time after communion is precious, use it to speak with Jesus, open your heart to him. If it is possible remain in church, for some more time, after mass is ended.
  • Prepare yourself for the Eucharist. If you need, go for confession, fast for one hour before communion.
  • Try and hear mass during the week and not only on Sunday.
  • Prepare the readings before mass.
  • Read about the Eucharistic miracles
  • Eucharist means thanks giving. Before going to sleep, make a list of the things you need to thank God for.

These are just a few ideas which may help us to delve deeper into the mystery of the Eucharist. If mass and communion are just routine and an obligation, little good will come out. As we grow in reverence and we prepare ourselves better, our indifference will change and we come to appreciate the gift and help we can receive through the Eucharist.

A reading from the Gospel of Mark (Mk 14, 12-16,22-26)

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 

He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”‘ Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” 

The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. 

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 

Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

  1. Read the Gospel story so that you are familiar with it.
  2. Reflect on what the Gospel is saying to you. Which points would you highlight and why?
  3. The Last Supper was a special meal of Jesus with his friends. Our way of living and full timetables may make it difficult to have family meals. However, eating together, without having other distractions, is important. It is a time when we talk to each other about what we are going through. Jesus also showed us the importance of giving and everyone doing his share. Plan how family meals happen more often if this is not a present reality. Involve all family members in giving a helping hand. Do not forget to say a prayer of thanksgiving before starting to eat. 
  4. Most probably the apostles did not understand what Jesus was saying when he gave them the bread and wine as his body and blood. However, they must have felt that something special had just occurred. It is probable that the children are too young to understand the significance of the mass, however the way that you, as a parent and adult, behave and prepare yourself for mass, will surely influence the children. Think about this and the message you are transmitting to your children.
  5. Together with your family find the right time to read this gospel. The environment helps, so before you start, prepare:
    i. The Bible reading from St Mark (14, 12-16,22-26)
    ii. A candle
    iii. Cover the table with a white cloth
    vi. A computer/laptop with the reading and clips
  6. Go through the steps with your children (2 age groups are being suggested)
  7. Feel free to adapt to your situation
  8. Be creative 😊
  9. Go to the Prayer Corner section to continue praying as a family

Do you know that today we celebrate another big feast? We call today’s feast the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Some of you have just celebrated or you will soon celebrate your First Holy Communion, so you may have a fairly good idea why this is a big and special day.

– YouTube
Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.
www.youtube.com
  • Jesus wants to be really near to us, so he gave us this great gift of the Eucharist
  • nothing is required for this activity

When you go to church, have you ever noticed the a big lamp, that is usually hanging in the middle of the church? We call it the sanctuary lamp. It is always lit. If there is no sanctuary lamp, then we will see a candle lit on the altar. Do you know why?

This light reminds us that Jesus is in the tabernacle. It is difficult to understand but we believe it. Did you listen well to today’s gospel? What did Jesus say when he took the bread in his hand? (“This is my body”) And when he took the wine? (“This is my blood”)

Let us stop here for a bit and think about something else. Do you have a pet at home? What is your pet? If you do not have a pet, do you know someone who does?

What do you do when you have pets? (you care for them, you give them food and drink, you keep them clean, you stay with them, you play with them)

Why do you do all this? (because you love your pet)

Jesus loves us much more than we can ever love our pets. And Jesus does all this that we mentioned and more. For example, we said that we keep our pets clean. When we make a bad choice, it is as if we became dirty. Jesus makes us clean, by forgiving us. He takes care of us and send us people like our parents, grandparents and others to care for us and love us. We give our pets food and drink. Even Jesus gives us food and drink!

During mass, the priest repeats the same words Jesus said during the Last Supper. The apostles did not see any change in the bread and wine. Neither do we see any change in the host and wine. Not even the taste changes. In fact even the apostles did not taste the bread and wine differently, after Jesus said that they were his body and blood. Yet, they knew that Jesus was their friend and that he had always told them the truth. They believed that what he said to them was true. For sure, they did not understand, but in time they understood better, however they could never fully understand how this miracle could happen. It is the same with us. We know that Jesus never lies. We know that Jesus wants to be near us. So through the Eucharist, he found a way of being really close. When we receive communion, we eat the heavenly bread, so that Jesus becomes part of us! Wow, we are so lucky, this is truly the best gift ever!

Do you remember what we spoke about these last few weeks? After Jesus had his special meal with this friends, he died and rose again, after some weeks he rose to heaven. The apostles were very confused, they did not know what they had to do, they were afraid that the soldiers would capture them and kill them, like they had killed Jesus. But the Holy Spirit descended upon them, as Jesus had promised, and they were filled with courage to do what Jesus wished them to do.

When we receive the Eucharist, Jesus gives us this special food, which gives us strength and courage to become good children, and people who love him and love others. When we receive the Eucharist we have the courage to do what Jesus wishes.

Let us listen to this song and remember what Jesus wishes us to do, I’m trying to be like Jesus.

Some of you do not yet receive the Eucharist, but remember what we said earlier. When we go to church and see the light of the sanctuary lamp or of the candle on the altar, we remember that Jesus is there, he is very near to us. It is true that Jesus is always near, but when we go to church, we remember this much more, it is our special time with Jesus. Earlier we said, that we spend time with our pets and we play with them, because we love them. So if we love Jesus, we should also spend time with him. Jesus really loves this time we spend together with him.

We do not have the usual activity for this week, because we will do something different. We know that Jesus loves talking to us, so when we are with our parents or grandparents and walking by a church or chapel, remind them to go inside and say hello to Jesus. Try and do this at least once a week. For those who are now also receiving the Eucharist, remind your parents to go to mass on Sunday, so that you can receive this big great gift of the Eucharist.

Sign of the Cross

Thank you Jesus, you want to come to us is this special way through the Eucharist. Today, we would like to pray for all those children who are celebrating their First Holy Communion. Let them continue to feel this happiness every time they receive communion. Jesus help us to love others, as you love us. Amen.


Listen to this song, to understand better, the effects of the Eucharist, The E-U-C-H-A-R-I-S-T Song,  (note to parents: there may be some words which need to be explained)

Today we are celebrating yet another feast: the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus. This feast reminds us that through consecration, the bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Jesus. This happens during mass, when the priest repeats the same words Jesus said during the Last Supper, with the power of the Holy Spirit, the bread and wine, become the body and blood of Jesus.

– YouTube
Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.
www.youtube.com
  • The bread and wine become the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus
  • The Eucharist gives us the strength to live like Jesus
  • Printout of the activity
  • Pencil 
Activity printoutDownload

If we have a pet at home, we need nourish it through food and drink. Even if we have plants or trees in our garden, they need to be watered. To be strong, we too need to eat and drink.  You know that to be strong we cannot eat and drink whatever we feel like, we eat and drink healthily. 

Jesus gives us food and drink too, not to be physically strong, but to become better persons. You learn that Jesus is our role model. This means that we look to Jesus to see how we are to live. Do you know how Jesus lived? (he prayed, he loved and helped others, he was everyone’s friend)

Jesus wants us to be like him, but he also knows how difficult it is. That is why he encourages us to pray, like he used to pray. He sends us people who love us and who help us make good choices. Yet he also wanted to give us something very special to remind us that he is always with us. Just as food gives us strength, he wants to give us the strength to do what is right. This special gift Jesus gives us, is the Eucharist.

In St Luke’s gospel, we read the story that narrates to us that Jesus was lost in the temple. This is how this story ends: Jesus returns to Nazareth where he “grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2, 52). The Eucharist gives us the strength so that like Jesus, we grow in wisdom, in stature and in favour with God and man. How can we do this?

Growing in wisdom means that you know what should be done, even in difficult situations. Have you heard the word conscience? Our conscience is that feeling we have when we do something. Conscience shows us if our choice was a good or bad one. To be able to do this, I need to learn. I learn at school and in the parish. 

To grow in stature, we need to take care of ourselves. We need to eat what is healthy, keep fit, and be with friends who help us to make the right choices.

To grow in favour with God, we pray, we read the Bible, we obey the commandments and we love God.

We grow in favour with men, when we obey, we help others, we show respect and love, when we are true friends.

For the activity, you have a sheet, divided into four. You can print it on A3 paper and it is used by all the family, or else print it on A4 paper and it will be for your own personal use. Every week, start a new sheet. This is not a competition to see who has the longest list! In our family, we are loved and we return this love. So we help others and we do not hinder them from doing what is good. At the end of the day, we see how we grew in wisdom, stature and favour with God and man, and write it down in the relevant space. We know that we need help to do this. Jesus gives us this help, when we receive him in the Eucharist. This is why it is important to go to mass every Sunday, and if possible even during the week.Let us listen to this song, I wanna do right, and remember that when we receive the Eucharist and we trust Jesus, he helps us to do what is right.

Sign of the Cross.

Thank you Jesus for the help you give us through the Eucharist, so that we can love and help others. Thank you for helping us to know God better, to know God’s love, forgiveness and mercy. We pray for all those who do not wish to receive communion. Please send people in their lives, to help them understand, what a great and helpful gift, the Eucharist, truly is. Amen.

1. According to today’s Gospel, the disciples asked Jesus what they should do to prepare a special meal. What was this meal they were going to celebrate?

Correct! Wrong!

2. They prepared for this meal in a particular place. What was this place?

Correct! Wrong!

3. During the meal, Jesus took the bread and the cup in his hand and gave it to the disciples. He spoke and said that the bread and wine...

Correct! Wrong!

4. After the disciples ate and drank the body and blood of the Lord ...

Correct! Wrong!

How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.