Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection for - Sunday, June 7, 2026

The Feast of Corpus Christi celebrates the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This doctrine is derived from the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and several of Paul’s letters. In the 13th Century, a German priest, who doubted the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist, experienced a Eucharistic Miracle in which drops of blood dripped from the body of Christ immediately after the consecration. Pope Urban IV established this feast to commemorate that miracle and to reinforce belief in the real presence.

We believe that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist because of His words and deeds. Whether He says, “I am the bread of life” or distributes bread saying, “this is my body,” He is clear that He is truly present in the bread. From His words at the Last Supper, to the work of the apostles, to the sacrifice of martyrs, to the teaching of the early Church Fathers (and continuing for nearly twenty centuries), our belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist has never been diminished or changed in any way. Given this reality, our attitude of faith must also be an attitude of deep reverence for this long held truth.

People attempt to show reverence for the Eucharist in a variety of superficial ways: kneeling instead of standing, receiving on their tongues instead of in their hands, receiving from the priest instead of the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. However, as the Lord often reminded the Pharisees, superficial reverence means very little to our Lord. Deep reverence cannot be seen, it is in one’s heart.

Unfortunately, while many people admit that they are sinners, they tend to minimize the severity of their sins, rarely go to Confession, but still receive the Eucharist. We cannot reverently receive the Eucharist if we angrily take the Lord’s name in vain while driving to mass or if we gossip outside the church before mass. We manifest a deeply reverent attitude toward the Eucharist by being in a state of grace when we receive it. That means being fully reconciled with God through Confession and/or contrition. We cannot reverently receive the Eucharist if we are guilty of mortal sin and have not been absolved of that sin or if we are guilty of venial sin and have not made a sincere act of contrition.

Fr. Mike