Homily

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I am the living bread which has come down from heaven, says the Lord; anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.” Jn 6:51

In July 2020 I did not think anything could eclipse the feeling I had as one Saturday evening I sat down after enjoying the company of friends eating and drinking in my garden: thankfully the weather had been kind, for though they were allowed into the Vicarage for bathroom purposes, we were not allowed to indulge in my favourite pastime, sitting around the dining room table. It was being able to do that latter pastime: when, 12 months later, that experience was eclipsed! To me there is nothing better than sitting around the dining table and many of us agree that, living on one’s own, won of the greatest hardships of lockdown were so many lonely meals.

Meals are important occasions and feature greatly in the Old Testament, as well as the New, as we see in the first reading for today’s feast. In this account Melchizedek, a priest and king, brought bread and wine to Abraham in order to welcome him to the promised land as he recognises him as one due of honour as one blessed by God.

As on Maundy Thursday, when you were preparing for Mass today and looking at the readings in the booklet you may been surprised that the Gospel reading was not one of the accounts of the Last Supper, but perhaps the most well known of all the miracles, for as we have noted before it is the only one recorded in each of the four Gospels. Indeed, as on Maundy Thursday the scriptural reading about the Last Supper, and reference to the institution of the Eucharist, is in the second reading from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.

The Glenstal commentary introduces this reading with these words: -

“The Corinthians had come to treat the Lord’s supper selfishly, without regard for one another. Paul recalls them to order by setting out the apostolic tradition of the eucharist.”

In formulating the readings for both the Mass of the Last Supper and this the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, the apostolic Church of our day, calls us reflect on that very tradition. As we consider each year at the Mass of the Last Supper, when we hear the Gospel of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet; again, we see today in the Gospel of the Feeding of the 5,000, the tradition is that we have this great gift to sustain the pilgrim Church’s mission.

This is highlighted in these words from the Living Word Commentary for today: -

“This incident in Jesus’ life was seen as so important that the Gospel writers tell of it no fewer than six times.”

I would not want to go into the world of Biblical Criticism this morning, but in case you have misheard me Matthew and Mark record a Feeding of the 4000 as well. The point is that in each of these accounts it is not only the feeding and the amount of food that resonates with the Gospel writers, but that it takes place alongside Jesus healing the sick and teaching about the Kingdom of God. Here then is set out the apostolic tradition that the Blessed Sacrament is seen as the sustenance needed for the Church to continue Jesus’ role of God meeting his people and fulfilling the needs of the whole person, body, and soul.

I am truly sorry to be missing this afternoon’s celebration with the great Procession of the Host culminating with Benediction; not least as it’s the first Group celebration for many years: but that, in itself, it is challenge to us to remember that as we celebrate the Mass, locally,  we take part in that offering that is of the universal Church and we that  do so to be sustained in our part of that Church’s mission to be of service to others; as Jesus was on that mountainside at the end of a tiring day.

To return to where I began, we have all of us appreciated being able to return to the enjoyment of the company of others more easily. As a Christian Community we appreciate our gathering around the altar as our sustenance and regularly recommit ourselves to the work to which we have been called and today we give thanks for such a great gift as is the Blessed Sacrament. There is another call, I believe from the Lord himself, on this feast of Corpus Christi and that is prayer. Let’s never forget from where Jesus gained his strength before such events as the feeding miracles and to which he retreated after them – time to pray with the Father. 

At the conclusion of today’s great celebration, here in Brighton and across the world, as the monstrances and candles are put away, the tabernacles remain full to overflowing, yet are so often ignored!

I am the living bread which has come down from heaven, says the Lord; anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.” Jn 6:51