The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ By Seminarian Brother Kenneth Tham

This June, we celebrate six great solemnities: Pentecost, The Most Holy Trinity, Corpus Christi, The Nativity of St. John the Baptist, The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Saints Peter and Paul. At the heart of each of these celebrations is the Eucharist. Without it, they lose their deepest meaning. The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life (CCC 1324); it is from this sacred mystery that our lives must flow.

In Christ, we behold the fullness of both humanity and divinity. His human nature is made manifest in the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, where his heart, pierced by a spear, was opened for us in love. His divine nature is revealed in the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, where he stands as the Second Person of the eternal Godhead. Each time we receive the Eucharist, we partake in his Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. As baptised Catholics, we bear an indelible mark on our souls—an ontological transformation, not of superiority, but of consecration. We are set apart for a mission: to live as children of God, witnessing to the Gospel. The Eucharist is our strength, shaping and transforming us, little by little, into Christ.

We become what we receive—but only if we recognise who we are receiving. To partake in the Eucharist is to be drawn into Christ’s vision, seeing the world through eyes of love. Our Catholic worldview must reflect this same love, one that recognises and upholds the dignity of every person, for all are made in the image and likeness of God. Jesus himself demonstrated this in his encounters with tax collectors and sinners (Mt 9:10-17; Lk 7:48, 50), restoring their dignity not by condemnation, but by love. As educators, we are called to do the same, forming our students not only in knowledge but in love and respect for the human person.

We do not have all the answers, nor are we expected to. Just as students do not demand infallibility from their teachers but rather sincerity and care, so too must we embrace humility in our discipleship. Striving to be better witnesses is itself a form of witness. We see this in the example of Saints Peter and Paul—Peter, who faltered and was rebuked by Paul at Antioch (Gal 2:11-14), yet continued to seek the right path. Even in his final moments, tradition tells us, Peter was fleeing persecution in Rome when he encountered Christ walking in the opposite direction. “Quo vadis, Domine?” he asked. “I am going to Rome to be crucified again,” Jesus replied. This encounter moved Peter to turn back, embracing his martyrdom. Like Peter, may we always seek to course-correct, growing ever more faithful in our witness to Christ.

At Pentecost, the disciples received the Holy Spirit, and even now, God continues to pour out his Spirit upon us—most tangibly in the Eucharist. Through it, he grants us the strength to see as he sees, to live lives that radiate hope, peace, and love. Our mission is ultimately to lead others to Christ, just as St. John the Baptist did—of whom St. John the Evangelist wrote, “He was not the light, but came to testify to the light” (Jn 1:8). As educators, we hold a position of profound trust; our students come to us not only for knowledge but for guidance in their struggles and uncertainties. Like Philip, sent by the Spirit to guide the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:29-31), we too are sent to accompany those entrusted to us. And when our task is complete, we will be sent again, to others who need our presence.

Above all, we must lead by witness. And for that, we must be nourished by the Eucharist, the wellspring of our strength and our faith.