Broken and Shared
This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. At the heart of our Catholic faith is the astonishing gift of the Eucharist: Christ offered, broken, and shared with us. This is not just a symbol, but his real presence among us.
In today’s Gospel from Luke, Jesus looks upon a large, hungry crowd. As the day wears on, the disciples suggest sending the people away to find food. But Jesus responds, “Give them something to eat yourselves.” With just five loaves and two fish, he blesses, breaks, and distributes the food. Everyone is satisfied, and nothing is wasted. In fact, twelve baskets of leftovers are gathered.
This miracle points us to the Eucharist. Jesus sees our hunger, not just for food, but for meaning, healing, and connection. He offers himself completely. Each time we come to the altar, we are fed not only with bread and wine, but with Christ himself, who enters our lives to strengthen and sustain us.
The first reading tells of Melchizedek offering bread and wine in blessing. It is an ancient gesture that finds its fulfilment in Jesus. In the second reading, Paul reminds us that when we break the bread and share the cup, we proclaim Christ’s death until he comes again. The Eucharist is not only a personal devotion but a public act of faith that calls us to live differently.
Just as Jesus used the humble gifts of loaves and fish, he now sends us. The Eucharist does not end with the final blessing. It begins there. We are called to be Eucharistic people: blessed, broken, and given to become nourishment for a world that is weary and burdened.
So as we gather this Sunday, let us pause in gratitude for this sacred mystery. May we recognise Christ’s real presence in the bread, in the cup, and in one another.
We are known by God, called to be light, and held in love. Let us pray for ears to hear his voice and the courage to follow wherever it may lead.
Ajith Nissangaratchie – Parish Pastoral Council Chair
