Sermon – Unity and Love in the Body of Christ (Mark 12:28b-34) – June 4, 2026

Today, the Church celebrates the great feast of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.

While Corpus Christi is celebrated on Thursday in many parts of the world, in some countries and regions, as here, the celebration is shifted to Sunday.

In this way, more believers can participate in the mystery of the Eucharist and together express their faith in the true presence of the Lord.

In the Gospel we listened to today (Mark 12:28b-34), a religious scholar asks Jesus which is the greatest commandment.

Jesus replies:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”

Then he adds the second commandment:

"Love your neighbor as yourself."

At first glance, this biblical passage may not seem to mention the Eucharist. However, it actually leads us to the very heart of the Eucharist mystery.

Because the Eucharist is the sacrament of Christ's eternal love for humanity. Jesus continues to offer himself to the Father and to give himself for us.

In his encyclopedic letter Mirae Caritatis, Pope Leo XIII describes the Eucharist as "the highest testimony of Christ's love for humanity."

Indeed, there is no love greater than the love of the Lord, who gave his life for his friends and remains among them throughout the ages.

While Jesus commands us to love God with all our being, the Eucharist teaches us how to live that love.

When we kneel before the Sacrament, we learn to place God at the center of our lives.

Worship is not merely a moment of prayer; it is also a school of love. Those who recognize Christ beneath the Blessed Bread learn to perceive His presence in their daily lives.

However, Jesus considered the second commandment equally important: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

The Eucharist directs us precisely to this. Mirae Caritatis teaches that the Eucharist strengthens the bonds of unity among believers and reinforces the unity of the Church.

Having received the Body of Christ, we cannot remain indifferent to the needs of our brothers and sisters. The same Lord who was at the altar awaits us in the poor, the sick, the lonely, and all who need help.

The Eucharist unites what sin has divided. It makes many into one body.

In the words of Pope Leo XIII, this sacred sacrament is the source of peace, brotherhood, and true love. The closer one draws to Christ, the closer one draws to one's fellow human beings.

Therefore, Corpus Christi is not merely about ceremonies, flowers, or outward displays. These are cherished traditions, but they are not the essence of the feast.

The most important thing is to renew our faith in Jesus, which is truly present in the Eucharist, and to allow Him to transform our lives.

The Christ we worship at the altar is the same Christ we must serve in our brothers and sisters.

Today, let us ask this Lord for the grace to love God above all else and to approach our neighbors with generous love.

May each Communion we receive bring us closer to living by these two great commandments.

And let us proclaim this truth to the world through our lives: Christ, who lives in the Eucharist and remains among us, is the source of all love and the perfect bond of unity.

May the Virgin Mary help us to love the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist more than ever before.