June 11. Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. A. Fr Fidelis took a very serious line.  He began, “This is one of the most important feasts in the Church because it teaches us about the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist in the bread and the wine when the priest uses the words of Jesus. THIS IS MY BODY, GIVEN UP FOR YOU. I ask you whether you really do believe that as Catholics, or whether it is something you don’t really think about and take for granted?  As a priest it is something that challenges me too.  It helps me to remind myself that God is also present in the sacramental love relationship of marriage, where couples live out those same words. We should reverence it much more than we do, as we should too with parental relationships.   In fact God is present everywhere in Creation too, in so many different ways and appearances. This month is Youth month and we also celebrate Father’s Day next week so now I especially call on fathers to value and worship Jesus in the Eucharist. Teach your children and do not desecrate it by unbecoming behaviour.  Did you know that to strengthen people’s faith there have been recognised miracles of the bread and wine physically being changed in appearance to human flesh and blood. Science has confirmed what we have believed in Faith and what the Catholic Church has taught for the last 2,000 years; echoing the words of Christ,  “THIS IS MY BODY, GIVEN UP FOR YOU.” So do think about and worship and thank Jesus for this gift to us, the Church.” 

Reflect, share, act. Scripture:    My Flesh is real food; my Blood real drink.  Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood dwells continually in Me and I dwell in him.” John 6:56-57  Pope Francis: A family’s living space could turn into a domestic church, a setting for the Eucharist, the presence of Christ seated at the table. AL 15.  God himself became man and gave himself as food for his creatures. The Eucharist joins heaven and earth; it embraces and penetrates all creation.  The world which came forth from God’s hands returns to him in blessed and undivided adoration.   LS 236..