This is a new stage in Jesus’ ministry. He begins the setting up of his foundational community of the Twelve Apostles, calling each by their own name and sending them off on their mission.
Notice the name Judas Iscariot, no cover up here. Jesus accepts our fallen human natures even though our community historically were inclined to deny (or conveniently ‘forget’) their actions for the ‘good‘ of the community.

We can identify with : Jesus himself the caring leader, parent, teacher, spiritual guide, even friend as he prepares them for future trials or The Apostles: church communities working out our mission statement together in this ever changing and challenging world, spreading the coming of God’s kingdom on earth through us.

Notice also Jesus emphasis on the free sharing of the Gospel with others and how we all can play our part in that.
– Giving our service humbly, freely and generously to all who come our way without demanding gratitude, or power over them.
– or  heaping  ‘obligations’ on them
– or demanding others become members of our communities.

The feast today highlights the central place of the Eucharist in Christian life, our faith that God becomes present in a real way in ordinary bread and wine – food for the journey of life in the bread, energy and joy for the journey of life in the wine, and the wine of the coming of the Lord. Bread and wine were very much part of the ordinary food of the people of his time, and also of their religious life. People would remember the bread in the desert and the wine of the coming of the Lord.  

Each time we come to Mass, we take part in a real way in the death and resurrection of the Lord, The sacrifice of Christ on the cross and his resurrection is ‘made present’ among us. It is a place and time of grace.

So our Eucharist today is not just to commemorate something that happened many years ago. It is our commitment to Christ in his people, and our faith in his real presence among us in the Eucharist and in each other.

Jesus ask us to share the bread and cup, to proclaim this ‘mystery of faith’ for all time. We proclaim today that the Jesus of the tabernacle is the Jesus within all of us. Let’s be amazed that within each of us, God dwells in Jesus Christ.

Recall moments when receiving communion
gave you strength in your life.
Lord, I believe in your presence in the Eucharist.
Strengthen my belief.

Fr Donal Neary, S.J

In the Name

They looked down from heaven – the Father, Son and Holy Spir­it – with love for their people. They could see men and women of all races, colours, ages, faiths, holiness and sin. They knew help was needed for the human race and waited a long time before the time was right.

The word of God, son of God, born before all ages, became one of us. We know the rest of the story. One of the persons of the Trinity became one of us, so that we could become like them. Jesus, Son of the eternal Father, was born, lived and died like us. In death, cruelly murdered and then laid in the tomb, the Spirit became alive in him, and now the Spirit of Jesus and the Father is alive in each of us since baptism.

The life of the Trinity becomes very ordinary in the love, care and forgiveness we offer to each other. It is also there in the ways in which we try to better the lives of the poor, the depressed and the anxious. It’s in how we try to teach a younger generation the best lessons of humanity and faith, and introduce them to this mystery of God. We are active partners in the work of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the world today.

Slowly make the sign of the cross a few times today,
asking to believe in the mystery of God’s love within God and for us.
By the mystery of water and wine in the Mass,
help us, Lord, to share in the divinity of Christ,
who humbled himself to share in our humanity.

Fr Donal Neary, S.J