Welcome to St Wilfrid's Parish in the Heart of Preston

‘Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in them.’

Today’s feast of Corpus Christi invites us to celebrate and reflect with gratitude on the mystery of the Eucharist. This is the great gift of Jesus’s very self: the bread of life. The readings help us see how God nourishes us, draws us together as one, and calls us to trust in him.

Moses (First Reading) recalls how God brought the Israelites out of slavery and led them through the desert, providing manna and water. We are never left alone: the Lord cares for us even in times of struggle.

This theme is echoed in the Psalm. The people lift their hearts in thanks to God, singing praise for his guidance, his word, and his protection.

Paul explains to the Corinthians, and to us, that sharing in the body and blood of Christ unites us to Christ and to the whole Christian community, making us one body. (Second Reading)

In the Gospel, Jesus declares himself to be the living bread from heaven. The Eucharist is the new manna, given through Jesus, who promises that he will be with us always as the source of all life.

This week, we pray for a deeper trust in the gift of the Eucharist, and especially for those unable to share in it for whatever reason, remembering that God loves every one of us unconditionally.

(With thanks to St Beuno's Outreach)

ARTWORK

The Eucharistic Saviour

Juan de Juanes (1545 - 1550. Oil on panel)

Museo del Prado, Madrid, Room 051