Today is the Feast of Corpus Christi, also known as the Feast of the Precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The Gospel text for this occasion is from John 6:51-58, where Jesus teaches about the bread of life. He declares himself as the living bread from heaven, promising eternal life to those who partake in this bread, which is his flesh given for the world. The shocking language of eating his flesh leads to objections from religious authorities, but it echoes the early Christian experience and the practice of the Eucharist. Saint Justin, a second-century writer and defender of the faith, addresses accusations against Christians, including cannibalism, by emphasizing the Eucharist as a sacred practice only for believers who have undergone baptism and strive to live according to Christ's teachings. The Eucharist, referred to as 'Among Us eucharistia,' is seen as a profound mystery, symbolizing a communion of life with the indwelling Trinity. The ritual of the Eucharist and the metaphor of bread signify the intimate relationship with Jesus and participation in the life of God, as Jesus is the way to the Father. In accepting and partaking in the bread of life, we affirm our communion with the Trinity and experience a holy communion that transcends our understanding.
