The feast of the Body and Blood of Christ reminds us of three radical transformations. The first transformation is the mysterious changing of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. It still stuns our imaginations when we think deeply about this transformation. Jesus chose the most ordinary and common things to be the way in which he comes to us as our source of nourishment. As
Catholics we have been celebrating the Eucharist for two thousand years, and will continue to do so until Jesus comes again.

The second transformation occurs when we take that Body and Blood of Christ into our very selves. When, in faith, we receive the Eucharist, we open ourselves to the life-changing presence of Jesus. This second transformation is not only on an individual level. It is not only that each of us draws closer to the Lord. When we take Holy Communion, we as a community become united as nothing else could ever unite us. We are brought together in a union, a communion, by the Lord himself. He is the one who is our unity. And so we do not remain, unconnected, divided individuals. We become one body. We become the Body of Christ.

Third Transformation:  Through our union with Christ and with one another in Christ, we are sent to transform the world. Our Catechism puts it rather starkly when it proclaims that, "The Eucharist commits us to the poor. To
receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognize Christ in the poorest, his brethren."  (par. 1397). It is not enough to have bread and wine transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ, unless we as that Body also bring the transforming power of love to all those in need of such wonderful love.

Peace, Fr. John