What would have happened if Christ had never ascended into heaven? He would still be living somewhere on earth. And there would be great queues to see him! A fortunate few would get close enough to speak with him. Most would never have the opportunity.

By ascending into heaven, Jesus shows us that his promise to remain with us “even to the end of the age” is fulfilled by other means — not his visible bodily presence, but his hidden bodily presence in the Eucharist.

There are no queues to see Jesus now. All over the world, everyone gets equal treatment. We could not get closer to Christ than we do when we receive him in Holy Communion. The Eucharist is a great equaliser.

More than that, in the end, Holy Communion is the solution to the big problem of our salvation: our separation from God. All the events of salvation history are necessary in leading up to it. To make the Eucharist possible, God first had to become man, take on a body, die on the cross, rise again and ascend into heaven.

All those events achieve something essential. But our celebrations this weekend have not been about what has been done, but about what is now — the result of those events. And what they have done is brought about the union of God and man. So don’t let the celebrations end. Corpus Christi is an incredibly special feast, yet at the same time, it is celebrating not a one-off special event, but what happens in churches around the world every day. You don’t need to queue to see Jesus. He is waiting for you.

On Sunday, we shall be celebrating the wonderful Solemnity of Corpus Christi, with a great procession through the main streets of our city, carrying the Blessed Sacrament as we go. We do this not in protest, or to try to impress, by tub-thumping and banner-waving (though we do, in fact, carry suitable banners), but simply in order to give due honour to our Lord Jesus, walking with us, hidden in the Sacrament of his love.

It will be a procession of witness to our faith and our love for Christ, which is why our turning out in large numbers, overcoming our natural shyness, and joining lustily in the beautiful eucharistic hymns and prayers, is so vital. We are proclaiming the truth that Christ is present among us here and now, in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: God hidden in the sacred Host. “Ah see, within a creature’s hand, the vast Creator, deigns to be…” It is an extraordinary thing, is it not?

In John 6, we find our Lord giving his teaching on the Eucharist. It was one of the most difficult moments in his public ministry. Many of his followers, appalled by what he was saying concerning eating his Body and drinking his Blood, simply left him. They found his teaching too hard and couldn’t continue as his disciples. It was a step too far. And in the moment, Jesus turned to his closest friends, the Twelve, and asked them whether they too, were about to abandon him.

It was then that Saint Peter gave one of the most moving answers in the Gospel: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)

Notice what Peter did not say. He did not say, “Lord, I understand everything.” He did not say, “Lord, I totally get it; this is easy to accept.” He did not even say, “Lord, I have no doubts.”

Instead, he said: “To whom shall we go?”

There are times when faith feels difficult. Prayer seems dry. Temptations persist. We are disappointed with ourselves. We are saddened by the weaknesses of the Church or the failures of her members. God may appear silent. The Cross feels heavy.

At such moments, we may be tempted to throw in the towel, as if leaving Christ would somehow solve the problem.

Yet Peter’s question remains. To whom shall we go?

Away from Jesus there may well be distraction, pleasure, busyness, or temporary relief. But who else who can forgive our sins, heal our wounds, reveal the Father, conquer death, and offer eternal life?

The saints understood this. Saint Philip experienced periods of weariness, frustration and disappointment. Saint John Henry endured misunderstanding and loneliness. Yet neither turned away from Christ, because they knew that the difficulties of following him were still far better than a life without him.

Perhaps faith is not the absence of struggle. It is remaining loyal to Christ despite the struggle. It is saying: “Lord, I do not understand everything. I do not sense your presence as I once did. I find the road hard. But I know that you alone have the message of eternal life, and I have chosen to trust you.”

The Christian life, we know, is not always easy. But Christ himself is our reward and our light. And when everything else seems dark and uncertain, Peter’s words can become our own: Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life. Therefore, however difficult the way, I will stay with you.