CORPUS CHRISTI 22 June 2025 – a sermon by Fr Alban McCoy OFM Conv

The feast of Corpus Christi celebrates the gift of the Holy Eucharist, and particularly Christ’s presence in the Mass and our communion with him and one another. Much ink has been spilled on the “what” and the “how” of the Eucharist. But the “why” is an equally important question. We celebrate the Eucharist because Jesus told us to: “Do this in memory of me”, the only injunction, according to Ronald Knox, which we have observed faithfully from the very beginning of the Church until now. But the reason he commanded us to celebrate it is because it is spiritual food which is, quite literally, vital for our journey through this life into eternal life. The Eucharist binds in loving communion us not only to God, but to one another. All genuine human love and friendship is grounded in God’s love and friendship, which he shares with all of us and which we share with one another. Friendship, with God and one another, is the only key to true and lasting peace in the world. The Eucharist, the banquet of Christ’s Body and Blood, is the sacrament of friendship and the bond of charity.

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