Gospel for June 7 2026 – John 6:51-58
Gospel Reflections for June 7 2026
You have a lot going on!
Today we celebrate the moment when you receive the person of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
However, you may arrive at Mass filled with many emotions or pre-occupied with thoughts of your family, your work, or other important issues. All are perfectly understandable to Our Lord. He knows you have a lot going on!
It is in precisely those areas of your concern that Our Lord would like to help, and offers Himself to you for that purpose of providing the grace you need …and right now!
The words of consecration say that clearly, “I give my body and blood, my entire self …for your lasting happiness.”
Our Lord does not consider all your thoughts about your life as distractions, but rather as the important things that you have to deal with, and it is in precisely those areas that Our Lord most wants to help with His grace. If they are important to you …then they are important to Him as well!
The moment of communion conveys that message well. He places Himself directly in your hands. He places Himself directly into your life and where you need Him most at that moment.
Your first reaction must be humble gratitude. That is why we bow just before receiving. Some even kneel. After receiving, you should go back to your seat and immediately kneel or sit and talk privately with Our Lord who is now inside you. This is not a time for standing!
You are free to kneel or sit in deep contemplation of His presence within you. This is the time to hear what Our Lord has to personally say to you precisely about all those issues that you walked into Church with at the beginning of Mass! HOW WILL YOU BE DIFFERENT IN ALL THOSE EVENTS NOW THAT CHRIST IS WITHIN YOU?
Our faith is not nostalgia, or merely looking back 2000 years to the time of Our Lord in Jerusalem, but rather to His very active presence within you now. Our Lord means to help you in all the important areas of your life that concern you.
Your answers will come from His example and then offering your own life for the good of others as well, just as He does in the words of the consecration.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Beautiful, a great reminder of the gifts available to us when receiving Communion. A great reminder of the Love being given to us, enabling us to take on and deal with the world we live in.
Thanks Father
You are very welcome!
Not sure I understand why standing is not respectful and an option. I remember several years ago that many people in church were standing after communion until the priest finished and was seated, standing as a community and out of respect for receiving the host. Kind of like when you stand to greet someone, you are showing respect. You can still pray quietly and respectfully while standing. I think intention and motive are important.
Sitting or kneeling after communion was the practice in the church for many centuries. Cardinal Mahony began the practice of standing only in our archdiocese until all have received in the 1990’s. He is no longer archbishop. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, our official guide, indicates the time after communion is a time of personal prayer. The proper position for that is kneeling or sitting. Hope that helps!
hello Father Dave…thank you for your timely Sunday reflections printed on Saturday morn! I am grateful for them, as I am always at the TLM on Sundays with Annie and Joe and appreciate your insights as there are differences in the readings, as you know.
I grew up with the TLM, and Pete and I were married in the ‘old rite’, which I deeply love above all. I wish there were a Latin Mass in Simi Valley so I would not have to drive so far, though others drive much further distances than we do.
The reverence of the TLM is in my ‘blood’, so your good words were very timely with me. May Our Lord continue to bless you in your words. Blessings always, Madeleine
Thank you!
Beautiful words our Father Dave! Loveeee our precious Jesus and loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee our Jesus living in us and we must share His loveeeeeeeeeeeee with everyone and make our life beautiful in His loveeeeeeeeeeee!! Love it and love you!Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!
Reading your words is a blessing for my husband and me. As Catholics, we rejoice when attending Sunday Mass at the Irish Basilica in Canada. I kneel to receive the Holy Communion and entrust myself to God. Once seated in the pew, I devoutly give thanks for the peace and harmony that fills my heart. God bless you, Father Heney.
Well said! Thank you for writing.