Holy Body and Blood

Corpus Christi

Today we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi, the Holy Body and Blood of Jesus. The readings focus on this theme. The first reading is from the book of Deuteronomy, and it also emphasises the importance of the Word of God in our lives.

The Gospel is from St John, who does not narrate the Last Supper as in the other gospels, however we get a long discourse about the multiplication of loaves and fish. After this miracle, or sign, as St John refers to it, the people flocked to follow Jesus. He tells the people that when the Jews where in the desert, God gave them manna as food. But this only gave them physical strength. Now Jesus says that he is the bread of life, unlike the manna, this gift gives eternal life.

Those who heard Jesus saying that he was giving his body as food, could not understand him. But we cannot always understand the ways of God. That is why we call this a mystery. A mystery is not a secret God is keeping from us, so there is no other way except to believe. A mystery is something which we cannot understand due to our limitations. With the help of the Holy Spirit and as we grow in our relationship with God, we can understand more of this mystery, however we can never understand or comprehend it the same way we solve a mathematical problem!

When we receive the Eucharist, Jesus becomes a part of us, just as the bread and wine become a part of our body. Through the Eucharist, Jesus becomes part of our soul. Just as the Holy Spirit changes the bread and wine into Jesus’ body and blood, through the Eucharist he helps us to draw closer to Jesus and to others.

A reading from the Gospel of John (Jn 6: 51-58)

Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” The Jews quarrelled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

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 story is saying to you. Which points would you highlight and why?
  3. St. Irenaeus said, ‘Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking.’ Ask yourself, ‘am I really attuned to the Eucharist?’ If not, then what is keeping me from this spiritual food?   
  4. Remember, the Eucharist is God’s greatest gift to us. It is food for this life and the next. As Christian’s it is the summit of our lives. Try this week to receive the Eucharist more than once.   
  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 John (Jn 3: 16-18)
    ii. a candle
    iii. Cover the table with a white cloth
    iv. 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. 

Today we celebrate the feast of the most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. In today’s gospel Jesus tell us that when we receive the Eucharist we become better persons, we become like him and we are saved.

  • Jesus the bread of life, gives us everlasting life.
  • Because Jesus loves us, Jesus wants to share his life with us through the Eucharist.
  • (enough for 2 small bread loaves, if you want more, increase the amounts accordingly)
  • 500g plain flour
  • 4g yeast
  • A pinch of salt
  • 325ml lukewarm water

Bread is a simple food that is eaten in many countries around the world, and we find many different types. Can you name different types of bread? White bread, wholemeal bread, multigrain, naan, ciabatta, pita are some examples. Did you know that many people are involved in the providing us with bread? (The farmer, the baker, shopkeeper). In the Gospel today Jesus says that he is ‘the bread of life’ and anyone who eats this bread will live forever. Jesus was talking about a very special bread, he was talking about the Eucharist. Many of you will have just made your First Holy Communion which was a very special day. Every time we go to mass and receive the Eucharist Jesus comes to us and we share his life because he loves us. If we would like to be like Jesus, we must act like him, we need to allow Jesus to tell us how he would like us to live. It is not always easy, and often we need courage to obey Jesus.

Now we are going to make some bread ourselves and think about how Jesus wants us to live.

Step one: we mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Step two: we knead the dough, as you knead the dough think about all the things that make you angry or sad and offer these cares to Jesus.  Remember Jesus gave his life for us on the Cross, so that all things could be made new. Step three: we wait! Divide the dough into two and put in separate bowls. Cover with cling film and allow to rest for two hours. As the bread proves and rises, think about how you could grow as a family in the way God wants you to. Will you pray more together? Be kinder to one another, try to share more with each other. Step four: bake the bread. Heat the oven at 2000C. Grease a baking tray with butter or line with baking paper, put the dough in the shape of bread loaves on the tray. Bake for 30 minutes or until you see that it is ready. As the bread bakes, think about all the people who do not have enough food to eat, say a prayer for there to be an end to world hunger and poverty. Step five: enjoy eating the bread together and do not forget to give the other loaf to someone else, so that we can share what we have and our love with others. Before doing this, give thanks to God for the bread.  

First the seed, then the grain. Thank you, God, for sun and rain. First the flour, then the bread. Thank you, God, that we are fed. Thank you God, for all your care. Help us all to share and share. Amen.

Listen to the song, You are the Bread of Life.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. Corpus Christi, Jesus left us the gift of himself in the Eucharist.

  • Jesus likens himself to bread, different from the bread we eat, because what Jesus gives is everlasting.
  • Just as the bread becomes part of us when we eat it, Jesus too would like to come to us through the Eucharist.
  • (Enough for 2 small bread loaves, if you want more, increase the amounts accordingly)
  • 500g plain flour
  • 4g yeast
  • A pinch of salt
  • 325ml lukewarm water

In today’s gospel Jesus promises eternal life. He says that he is the bread which leads to this life. When we gather for mass and we receive the Eucharist, we are being united with Jesus in a very special way and together with others we form the Body of Christ – one family.

Bread is a common type of food today just as it was in the time of Jesus. There are many different types of bread can you think of some? White, wholemeal, bagels baguettes, pitta, naan are just a few examples. Bread nourishes us and satisfies our hunger. In order to understand the Gospel that we hear today, we must know about the story that precedes it. A crowd of people had gathered to hear Jesus. Jesus had blessed five barley loaves and two fish, and there was enough to feed over 5000 people. Many people believed that Jesus came from God because of this miracle. The next day the crowd continued to follow Jesus and they wanted to see another miracle, but Jesus explains the miracle, the sign, that he has performed before saying that he will give them living bread from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will have eternal life. Jesus will come to live in those who eat this bread. Jesus was talking about the special gift he gives us in the Eucharist. In the Eucharist, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. When we share in the Eucharist, Jesus is present to us, and through our communion we will share eternal life.

We are going to make our own bread and then share it with our family and friends. Collect all the ingredients Step one: we mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Step two: we knead the dough.

Step three: we wait! Divide the dough into two and put in separate bowls. Cover with cling film and allow to rest for two hours. Step four: bake the bread. Heat the oven at 2000C. Grease a baking tray with butter or line with baking paper, put the dough in the shape of bread loaves on the tray. Bake for 30 minutes or until you see that it is ready. Step five: enjoy eating the bread together and let us not forget to give the other loaf to someone else, so that we can share what we have and our love with others.

Sign of the Cross

Lord God, in the meal of Eucharist we remember and celebrate your life in us. Help us to live together as one body in Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen

Listen to the EUCHARIST SONG.

Coming soon.

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.