Readings: Genesis 14:18-20; Psalms 110:1, 2, 3, 4; First Corinthians 11:23-26; Luke 9:11-17;

St Luke paints a down-to-earth picture of Jesus walking the dusty trails of Palestine, “speaking to the crowds about the Kingdom of God,” “healing those who needed to be cured”, and even making sure they had enough to eat. This picture shows how close Jesus wants to be to us. That’s a central message of today’s feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Back in first century Palestine, Jesus spent all his time doing things for others. His whole life was for others, for us. He came for us; he came to be our Savior and to be the Friend who will never let us down. And he wanted to make sure that we would never forget that. So he figured out a way to remain with us even after he died, rose, and ascended into heaven.

He has remained with us not only in the holy Scriptures, not only in the living Church, not only in the examples of the saints, but even under the humble and silent appearances of bread and wine. In the Eucharist, he is as close to us as he was to those people who walked with him on the dusty roads of Palestine. In fact, he is even closer. Those people received bread at his hands, but we receive the Lord himself in Holy Communion.

What more could Jesus have done to show us how passionately he wants to be near us, to guide us, to strengthen us? Jesus has not changed since the day he multiplied the loaves for the hungry crowds. He has not all of a sudden become selfish, harsh, and unforgiving. He is as good and generous now as he was then.

If Jesus has chosen to stay close to us, it is because we need him to be close to us. Jesus has stayed among us in the Eucharist, body, blood, soul and divinity. Today let’s thank him for this great gift, from the bottom of our hearts, and when he comes to us again in Holy Communion, let’s promise him that from now on we will make better use of it, even just a little bit better.