HOMILY CORPUS CHRISTI – FIRST EUCHARIST 2025
BREAD FOR THE JOURNEY IS BREAD FOR THE IMPERFECT
Lk 9.11-17 AA 2.42-47 Phil 1.3—6,8-11
(“LUNCH TO SHARE” – RHYME BIBLE Jn 6)
In 1959, a long, long time ago, when I was in Grade 2, at St James’s Gardenvale, I clearly remember the anticipation and excitement in looking forward to receiving First Communion, the group photo outside the Star of the Sea Convent fishpond, and then, of course, the party afterwards. While Mass was still in Latin, we had a booklet which explained things and had the prayers in English, so we could understand what was going on, but it was still all a bit mysterious (show photos).
At least now, we can listen to the readings and say the prayers with better understanding, as we focus on the message for us here and now, in how we are people who take the message of Jesus to heart and try to live it in our own lives.
Down through the ages, from the time of Jesus, there have been arguments about what he meant at the Last Supper, when he broke the bread and said “This is my body”, then passed around the cup after saying “This is my blood”, with the follow up command “Do this in memory of me.” As Christians in our Catholic tradition, we believe in a special presence of Jesus in the bread and wine that is blessed or consecrated by the priest, as he repeats the words of Jesus every time we celebrate Mass. We call this the ‘Real Presence’ of Jesus in the Eucharist, a word that means thanks or gratitude for this gift of spiritual nourishment and strength, for those who believe. So, while we can’t see him, and the appearance of bread and wine remains, our faith tells us that there is something special and transformed through our doing what Jesus told us to.
As we grow as Christians, and that means as friends of Jesus and each other, we don’t just receive Communion, but first we hear his word in the Gospel. Today we have Luke’s story of Jesus seeing the physical needs of the people who have followed him and gathered to listen to him preaching and teaching. He never stops with just that, as he always stops and reaches out to do something practical to help, anyone in need or in trouble. He has no favourites, and is open to all people.
In the story of the feeding of the 5,000, or however many were present, including women and children, he sees that the people are tired, hungry and thirsty. He knows it’s no use keeping talking, without helping them feel more comfortable and looked after. And he doesn’t just magically manufacture bread for them all, but first asks who can help him.
This story is in all 4 Gospels, and it’s John who has the young boy come forward with his own lunch (as we hear in the Rhyme Bible account), and offers it all to be shared with the others present. So it starts with the generosity of one person helping serve others. We can then presume that there might have been others in the crowd gathered to hear Jesus, who might have followed his example too. It is Jesus who brings them together and breaks up the bread and the fish, and in the end the hunger of all is satisfied, even with plenty of leftovers.
In John’s Gospel, at the Last Supper, Jesus starts off by washing the feet of his friends, not just because they had dirty feet, but as a sign of service, as he tells them to do the same to others. This means doing something about making things better for others, not just our families or friends, or those it’s easy to get on with, but with all who are in need of our help. We can all do our little bit, and it starts by looking beyond ourselves, to be thoughtful, generous and loving.
Jesus’s message is simple, in saying we should love God and one another as he has loved us. It sounds nice, but we know it can be hard at times, especially when we have been hurt by others or find it hard to get on with them.
This is why we hear from Acts of the Apostles in our first reading today, that, after Jesus was no longer physically present, after his Resurrection, his followers who believed in him, knew they had to continue, hearing his Word, celebrating eucharist together, and also living the way he had shown them, welcoming others into their community and sharing what they had, just as the young chap had done in the Gospel story.
In Luke’s Gospel, especially, he often talks about Jesus sharing meals with all sorts of people, even inviting himself along for a free feed with people others thought he shouldn’t mix with, like little Zaccheus, the tax collector for one, and also welcoming in sinners to share a meal, even though others didn’t like it. Hospitality in sharing meals and inviting outsiders was very much part of Jesus’ ministry which continued in the early church, as the Christian message spread. So it reminds us to be friendly, welcoming and generous in being open to, and caring of, others.
Then we hear Paul writing to Philippians, and reminding them that Jesus’ message wasn’t just nice words, but to be taken to heart and lived in our lives, as they showed their love for each other in the way they tried to get on together, helped those in need, and did their best in living in peace, whatever their differences.
So we gather to celebrate Eucharist, believing that Jesus gives us spiritual nourishment, so that we can be better people as his friends, and friends of each other, whatever our differences. We know no-one is perfect, and never will be, but we do know Jesus calls us to follow him, and to keep trying to live his way, as we receive him as the Bread of Life today, for the first time.
Now I conclude with a story I like to use for First Eucharist as it gives an image of what I see as the warmth and light coming from the magical stones found deep within the island. Those who find them, bring them out to share that warmth and light, but also remember their responsibility to use their creative talents to replace what they have taken out with something of their own, and so should we, making sure we all do our bit to help. It’s from the “Rainbow Fish” author Marcus Pfister, and called “Milo and the Magical Stones”. Eucharist brings us warmth and light as we continue to live in the light and love of Jesus.
john hannon Winter Solstice – Shortest Day of the Year! 21st June 2025