THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST HOMILY, JOHN 6:51-58, JUNE 7, 2026
By: Fr. Vincent
Corbelli, MM
1. STORY
One morning at
breakfast, five-year-old John and his brothers and sisters were told by their
mother that they had no food in the house to eat. There was no bread, no eggs, nothing to eat;
but if they prayed to God, he would give them food. So little John, on his way to school, entered
the church and went up to the altar. Looking
around carefully and seeing no one there, he prayed to God in a loud voice
saying, “Dear God, we have no bread, no eggs and no milk. My mother said if we asked you for food, you
would help us.” Having finished praying,
he left the church to school. Upon his return home, he opened the door and saw
bread, milk, eggs and other food. He
shouted with joy telling his mother that he prayed to God and his prayers were
heard just as his mother had told him. Yes,
his mother replied but told him it was a kind woman who had heard him pray in
church. She purchased the food after
hearing John pray for help. God helped
them through this kind woman. God,
through the Body of Christ, provides us with spiritual food.
2. GOSPEL, JOHN
6:51-58
A) I MYSELF AM
THE LIVING BREAD COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN
Jesus helped people
in many ways while on earth. He cured
the sick, calmed the storm on the sea, and multiplied bread feeding over 5,000
persons. He not only has bread for our
bodies, he has spiritual bread for our souls.
B) IF ANYONE EATS
THIS BREAD, HE, SHALL I LIVE FOREVER
Food brings us
health. The spiritual food Jesus
provides for us gives us health forever which is eternal life.
3. APPLICATION TO
LIFE
A) THE GREAT GIFT
OF SPIRITUAL FOOD
i) Jesus freely
provides this spiritual food, the Eucharist, at Mass. There is no need to go to a store to obtain
this wonderful gift. T here is no need to spend a lot of time preparing it as
is necessary with ordinary food.
ii) We should
receive the Eucharist at each Mass we attend if at all possible. This food helps us to be spiritually strong so
as to live our lives and be disciples of Jesus.
iii) We must always
be grateful for this spiritual food provided by our caring Jesus. We have done nothing to deserve it.
B) THE GIFT OF
ETERNAL LIFE
We know that good
food is an important way to stay healthy. Even though this is the case, we know that
eventually our health will decrease with age. This material food will give us health for a
limited amount of time. On the contrary,
the Eucharist will give us health forever, that is, eternal life. We do not know how this is possible, but we
believe what Jesus tells us that this spiritual food will bring us eternal
life. How blessed we are.
4. CONCLUSION
Just as Jesus
provided food for five-year-old John through a kind woman, so does Jesus provide
us with spiritual food through the Mass. This food brings us health forever, which is
eternal life. We should receive the
Eucharist every time we participate at Mass. We should be grateful for this great gift.
