Feast of Corpus Christi (2026)
Human beings are happiest when we feel connected to one another. But it takes effort to be in relationships with others. Very often we disappoint each other. Psychologists will tell us that a feeling of isolation is common among people in our society.
How do we attempt to deal with this problem? As with every other difficulty, we turn to technology. Connecting online was thought to be something that could bind us together. Many people have invested in social media. We share all our activities online. We read about the daily lives of others. But has that made us feel more connected with others? The sad fact is that it hasn’t. What we have learned is that we share only the good parts of our lives. We also see, for the most part, only the happy moments of friends, neighbors, and strangers lives. Most people are not going to share about their latest family argument on the internet. Many get a sense other people do not have the problems they do.
Another tool that is being used to combat isolation is artificial intelligence. One small example of that would be robotic pets that can be purchased today. Such a pet will follow you around. A robotic pet will perform tricks on command. And it might even fetch things around the house. The good news is that they do not make a mess on the carpet. Nor do you have to feed them.
We are finding that technology is not going to provide companionship. No, nothing replaces human relationships. When we study human life, we find that the times we feel most secure are the times when we feel like we are part of a group that cares about us. Lots of times becoming part of such groups is a matter of fate. The connection that develops does not always revolve around pleasurable memories, but at times there is common struggle that pulls people together.
In interacting with veterans, I have sensed that truth. Men and women who entered the military during WWII for example were thrown together in basic training. And they bonded with their units. Veterans are often reluctant to talk about their war time experience, but when they do, they talk about the sacrifices they made to take care of their buddies. From what is said, military life wasn’t about winning a war, but it was about survival. The way to survive was to take care of people in your unit.
When we reflect on the Eucharist today, we talk about the true presence. True presence is about two things. One aspect is the fact that bread and wine are turned into the body and blood of the Lord. But the other truth we remember is that people who gather around the altar of the Lord become the Body of Christ.
When we think about those first apostles, we realize that they were an eclectic group. What pulled them together at first? The common denominator was their personal relationship with Jesus. But Jesus asked his rag tag band of followers to live together, to share their beliefs with one another. He taught them a common philosophy. And the common meals they shared was the symbol of the fellowship they shared. After long days walking down the dusty roads of Galilee trying to heal the sick, feed the hungry, comfort the sorrowful, lift the downtrodden, the disciples would gather around the table to share a laugh, tell a story, enjoy some food, pray together. If we have been part of a band of brothers and sisters, we know what those first apostles felt.
Jesus knew he would die. He knew something would have to hold his followers together. And the things that would hold the church together were rituals. The ritual we call Eucharist was the primary ritual. Eucharist reminds us, the followers of Jesus, that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. We are never isolated we always have each other. We always have a common story of the savior we seek to imitate, Jesus Christ.