The Bread of Life

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Today, the second Sunday after Pentecost, we celebrate a second solemnity, known also as Corpus Christi. This week we return to Ordinary Time in the church Calendar. The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

The Gospel relates the multiplication of the loaves and fishes and is the only miracle to be found in all four Gospels and has Eucharistic significance. The Eucharist is the source of our Christian life. It is called Eucharist because it is an action of thanksgiving to God and has its roots in the Greek words eucharistein and eulogein which recall the Jewish blessing used especially during a meal, of God’s works of creation, redemption, and sanctification. We believe that in the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the bread and wine are offered and prayed over, the Spirit of God descends and makes those elements into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. This is the “real presence” of Christ, He is truly present in the Eucharist. The real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is a central tenet of our Catholic faith. 

Being present is one of the hardest demands of family life. As parents you try very hard to be present for all the important events in our children’s lives, such as birthdays, first day of school, graduation, football games, school plays. We try to be present when they are in need such as when they are sad, upset, frightened, sick, or in pain. Children want to know that you are there to support them and likewise you want to be truly present for them. 

Many times, we experience moments of confusion, sadness, doubt and we don’t want to be alone. We need the assurance that God our Father is present. He revealed his presence in his Son Jesus Christ. In turn, Jesus gives himself to us in the Eucharist. His message is that we are not alone. Emmanuel (God with us) is truly with us. God’s presence is in our midst and when we receive the Eucharist, we are called to be like Christ- truly present to those in need. Each time we receive the Eucharist we are receiving the Word of God into our entire being and this is very special. As parents we should aim to be really present for our family members and the Eucharist can help us to achieve this. The greatest gift we can receive is the presence of God within us! Christ himself said, “This is my body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).

A reading from the Gospel of Luke (Lk 9: 11-17)

Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed to be cured. As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said, “Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.” He said to them, “Give them some food yourselves.” They replied, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people.” Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Then he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty.” They did so and made them all sit down. Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.

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. In Jesus’ culture sharing bread was a sign of commitment and friendship. We share these same bonds at family meals and special occasions. Try to sit down as a family and eat your meals together, always starting the meal by making the Sign of the Cross and a short prayer to God.  
  4.  This week aim to practise real presence to your family. It is precious moments of shared experiences which strengthen our families.
  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 Luke(9:11-17)
    ii. A white candle
    iii. Cover the table with a white cloth
    iv. A computer/laptop with the readings and clips
    v. An icon or picture of the Holy Trinity
  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 😊 

In today’s Gospel we hear about the time Jesus performed a great miracle with bread and fish, feeding over five thousand people. This miracle is important to us as well.

  • This miracle where Jesus feeds five thousand teaches us about the Eucharist which is a special meal that Jesus told us to celebrate in memory of Him.
  • In the Eucharist, Jesus gives himself to us in the bread and wine which are transformed in his most precious body and blood.
  • Fish and loaves printout
  • Scissors/Glue
  • Colours
PrintoutDownload

The miracle which we are going to hear about today was a very important event in Jesus’ life. It’s so important that we can read about it in each of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). It is also very important for us as followers of Jesus. Let’s hear why.

Great crowds of people used to follow Jesus because of all the people he cured and to listen to the stories which he told (Parables). One day Jesus took a boat to a quiet place because he wanted to pray but the people guessed where he was going and they followed him on foot.

Jesus was sorry for everyone and he spent the day teaching them and healing the sick.

When evening came the crowds were really hungry but there was nowhere to buy any food. The disciples told Jesus to send the people away so they can get some food, but Jesus said, “There is no need to send them away. You feed them.”  The only person with any food was a young boy, he had five small loaves of bread and two fish. The disciples took the boy to Jesus and showed him the loaves and fishes and said. “Here is a boy with five loaves and two fish but it’s not enough to feed all these people!” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down in groups.” There were over five thousand people sitting down. Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, broke them and asked the disciples to give the bread to all the people. He then did the same with the fish. Everyone had as much as they wanted to eat and when the left-over scraps were gathered up, there were twelve baskets of food.  

What do you think the disciples and the other people said to each other when this happened? Imagine if you had been there in the crowd that day. You were feeling very hungry and had no idea where to find any food but then because of Jesus’ miracle you get given something to eat by the disciples. Maybe you would feel grateful and say thank you to Jesus for giving you something to eat. Because Jesus wanted to take care of all the people that day, he performed this miracle to show God’s love for us and that Jesus can give us what we need. 

At Mass Jesus gives us special food in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, some of you may have just celebrated or are soon going to celebrate your First Holy Communion. In the Holy Eucharist Jesus comes to us in the bread and the wine that are transformed in his Body and Blood. Jesus comes to us in Person as food for our soul. Jesus comes to live in us and to stay in us and to help us always. That is why the Eucharist is so special.

As an activity to remind you of today’s miracle of the “Feeding of the Five Thousand” print the template of the loaves and fishes and the basket. Colour them in and carefully cut them out. Glue the fish and loaves behind the basket in a random order sticking out as if they are inside the basket. Then stick the whole thing onto card to make it stronger, and cut around the edges. Then write a memory verse from today’s Gospel on the back.

Listen to this song; No Greater Gift.

Sign of the Cross

God of miracles, thank you for Jesus, the Bread of Life. Thank you for your gift of Eucharist. Help us to share with others as you share yourself with us.

Amen.

Today we celebrate the feast of The Body and Blood of Christ, we celebrate our belief in the Eucharist. At Mass the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.

  • Just as our bodies require the proper nourishment for energy and growth, we also need the proper nourishment for our spiritual and emotional needs. Jesus can satisfy our spiritual hungers in the Eucharist, and we can always go back to him for more.
  • Chalice and Host print out
  • Colours/Scissors/glue/ glitter glue or stickers to decorate
  • 1 yellow, 1 white+ 1 blue construction paper
  • A picture of Jesus (can be taken from the internet or drawn by hand) 
PrintoutDownload

Jesus gave us signs of his love in the Sacraments. The Sacraments give us God’s grace and help us throughout our lives. They make us strong and fill us with God’s love. Which is the Sacrament in which the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus? It’s the Eucharist (Holy Communion).

Do you know the name of the cup used by the priest at Mass when celebrating the Eucharist? It is called the Chalice and is placed on the Altar together with the Host which is placed on a plate called the Paten. They are brought in the offertory procession as gifts of bread and wine. We know that Jesus used bread and wine at the Last Supper and that is why we use them but they also have another meaning. They are changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus, and become an offering of Jesus himself (He is truly present). Together with himself, Jesus offers all of us, our thanksgiving, our praise and our sorrow to the Father. In the Eucharist, Jesus is truly with us. Today we celebrate the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Today’s Gospel tells us about a different meal that Jesus gave to a large crowd, we can find the story in all four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). It is a very important event in Jesus’ teaching. Jesus feeds over five thousand people with five loaves and two fishes by performing a miracle and multiplying them. Jesus blessed the food and there was enough food for everyone to eat, there was even food left over, afterwards the disciples collected twelve baskets of left-over scraps. The Gospel is teaching us about God’s love, with Jesus, the crowds had more than enough to eat and Jesus also satisfies our spiritual hunger. There is more than enough spiritual nourishment to go round. Jesus can satisfy our spiritual needs time and time again, through the Eucharist.

To understand today’s Gospel message better you could do this craft. Collect all the items needed. Print out the template of the half Chalice and host. Make sure that your picture of Jesus will fit inside the host. Fold the yellow paper in half and place the half chalice on the fold and cut it out, you will then have a whole chalice. Glue it onto the blue paper leaving room for the host above it. Next do the same with the white paper and cut out the host, make sure the flat edge is on the fold. Glue the host above the chalice leaving one side to open like a door. Open the host and stick your picture of Jesus inside. On the outside draw a cross. Now you can decorate your chalice with stickers or glitter glue or just colour it.

The finished picture is of a beautiful chalice and host, which opens to reveal Jesus. Just as Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist at Mass and continues to be present in the tabernacle 

where he dwells with us so that we may seek Him and be with Him.

Listen to this song: The E-U-C-H-A-R-I-S-T Song.

Sign of the cross.

O Sacrament most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving, be every moment Thine. Amen

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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.