We are used to a thorough preparation for First Holy Communion but in ancient times new Christians had the meaning of the sacraments explained to them only after they had received them.  St Augustine explains the Holy Eucharist to the newly baptised in an Easter Sermon.  He says, “That bread which you see upon the altar, that bread which has been sanctified by the word of God, is the Body of Christ: that chalice, or rather what that chalice contains, which has been sanctified by the word of God, is the Blood of Christ.  By these did Christ Our Lord will to give to us His Body and His Blood, which he shed for us unto the remission of our sins.  If you have properly received them, you are what you have received, for the Apostle says: “We, being many, are one bread, one body.””  He dwells on the imagery of how single grains become a single loaf through being ground and moistened with water (baptism) and then baked by fire (the Holy Spirit).  Likewise, grapes are crushed together to produce the wine – our fasting, sorrows, labours, tribulations draw us together in the chalice.  Today we thank Our Lord for leaving us this wonderful gift, for food for the journey through life and for his abiding presence among us.  We pray for the children who will receive the Bread of Life for the first time at our 11.00 a.m. Mass next Sunday.