Homily for first communion(1Corinthians 11:23-26; Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18; John 6:51-58

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, especially our young friends who will receive the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time today:

What a joyful day this is! Today, these children will join us fully at the Lord's table, receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist for the first time. This is not just a milestone in their faith journey—it is a profound encounter with the living God who loves them beyond measure.

In today's Gospel, Jesus makes an extraordinary statement: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." When the people questioned this teaching, Jesus didn't back down or explain it away as merely symbolic. Instead, he emphasised it even more strongly: "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you."

These words were shocking to those who first heard them. Many of his followers found this teaching too difficult and walked away. But Jesus meant exactly what he said. This is the great mystery and gift we celebrate today—that Jesus gives us his very self as food for our journey.

St. Paul, in our first reading, tells us how he received from the Lord the tradition that on the night before he died, Jesus took bread and wine, blessed them, and gave them to his disciples saying, "This is my body... this is my blood." And he commanded them, "Do this in remembrance of me." For nearly 2,000 years, the Church has faithfully obeyed this command, celebrating the Eucharist as the source and summit of our faith.

The Eucharist is not just a symbol or a reminder of Jesus. It truly is Jesus himself—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity—under the appearances of bread and wine. This is what we call the Real Presence. Though our senses perceive bread and wine, our faith tells us that through the words of consecration spoken by the priest, they become the Body and Blood of Christ.

Children, let me speak directly to you for a moment. Today, Jesus will come to you in a new and special way. When you receive Communion, it might look like bread, but it is actually Jesus himself coming to be with you. This is why we prepare so carefully, why we fast before receiving Communion, why we bow or genuflect before the tabernacle, and why we receive with such reverence. We are receiving not just something, but Someone—Jesus Christ himself.

The Catechism teaches us that the Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life" (CCC 1324). Everything in our faith leads to this moment, and everything flows from it. When we receive Jesus in Holy Communion, we are united with him in the most intimate way possible in this life. We become what we receive—the Body of Christ.

In the Psalm today, we heard the question: "How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?" The answer follows: "I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord." This cup of salvation is what Jesus offers us in the Eucharist—his very life poured out for us.

St. Thomas Aquinas, the great Doctor of the Church who wrote so beautifully about the Eucharist, called it the "sacrament of love" and the "pledge of future glory." When we receive Jesus in Holy Communion, we receive his love, and we are given a foretaste of heaven.

Pope Benedict XVI once said, "In the Eucharist, Jesus does not give us a 'thing,' but himself; he offers his own body and pours out his own blood. He thus gives us the totality of his life and reveals the ultimate origin of this love."

Dear children, as you receive Jesus for the first time today, remember that this is not a one-time event. Jesus wants to give himself to you again and again throughout your life. He wants to be your food, your strength, your comfort, and your joy. He wants to walk with you every day of your life.

Parents and godparents, today is a reminder of your sacred responsibility to nurture the faith of these children. Help them to understand the great gift they receive today. Bring them to Mass regularly so they can continue to receive Jesus. Show them by your own reverence and devotion how precious the Eucharist is.

To all of us gathered here, this First Communion celebration invites us to renew our own appreciation for the Eucharist. Have we perhaps grown too familiar with this amazing gift? Do we receive Communion without really thinking about Who we are receiving? Let us ask the Lord today to rekindle in us a sense of wonder and gratitude for the gift of his Body and Blood.

In a few moments, these children will approach the altar to receive Jesus for the first time. Let us pray that this will be the beginning of a lifelong love affair with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Let us pray that they will always hunger for this Bread of Life and that they will find in the Eucharist the strength and grace to live as faithful disciples of Jesus.

As St. John Paul II often reminded us, "The Eucharist is the heart of the Church." Today, these children are welcomed more fully into that heart. May they, and all of us, continue to be transformed by this most holy sacrament, becoming more and more like the One we receive.

Amen.