Jesus gives us his flesh to eat and his blood to drink.  For he wants us to live on earth as in heaven.  That is, sharing in the Eucharist commits us to live as he.

We are told that the Eucharist shows that love is inventive to infinity (SV.EN XI:131-132).  For such love drives Jesus to be present in the Eucharist in a real and substantial way.  Hence, there is no absence on his part that can make us forget him or cool off our hearts.

Nor is there a way he can turn lowlier, on top of his becoming flesh, other than this:  to give us his flesh to eat and his blood to drink.  For in that way, each person can be one with him and be like him even more.

And he says to us besides, “If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you.”  He thus prods us in an inventive way, yes, to eat his flesh and drink his blood.

No, there is no doubt that love can do all things and wants all things.  And we learn about this from Jesus, from the one who reveals love, since he gives his life for us; hence, we also are to give our lives for our brothers and sisters. That is, we must live what we celebrate in the Eucharist.  For not to live it is not to believe it.

And to live the Eucharist means to live by the Word of God that is Jesus.  It means to be in communion with his body and blood.  And since we share the one bread, we are one body, though we are many.

Lord Jesus, grant us who celebrate the Eucharist to be in communion with you and to be one body.  Thus, we will live and not die due to selfishness, to greed.  And you invite us to the communion that began before time; make us accept your invitation.

7 June 2026
Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (A)
Dt 8, 2-3. 14b-16a; 1 Cor 10, 16-17; Jn 6, 51-58