Flesh and blood - is a Hebrew idiom used to refer to the whole person; so that in a sense, we can speak of the sacramental communion as the personal communion or encounter with Jesus who shares His life and the life of His Father with us. Through the Eucharist, we solemnly participate in His Incarnation, His Passion, death and resurrection, and in His mission. Today's Gospel reminds us that our faith is also physical - we are not speaking of a mere supernatural presence limited to the consecrated host and wine. No, we are speaking of real presence - Christ is fully present to us in His Body and His Blood. There is a tendency to focus our entire attention on the consecrated host and wine and then fail to recognise its real impact on us. It's amazing how many good Catholics can believe that a piece of wafer is the real body of Christ and yet find such great difficulty to see Christ in another person, a person of 'flesh and blood'. Thus, to take the life of another person, whether he is a criminal, a terrorist, an enemy or even an unborn child, or merely be indifferent to these acts of war, violence, murder, revenge, abuse, and abortion - could be sacrilege. So, our devotion to Christ's Body and Blood, no matter how pious and commendable, will be of no merit whatsoever, if we do not have that same reverence for human life. Our mission of justice and service is a mission of the Eucharist.