THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST, CYCLE C

Open with a prayer: Loving and nourishing God, we gather together to contemplate the great gift of the Holy Eucharist. Open our eyes to the holy presence of Jesus in our midst and in our Eucharistic celebrations. Open our minds and hearts to the message you wish to convey to us in the Scriptures we are about to share. This we pray through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Sharing of life: How was your week? Did you feel close or distant from God?

Facilitator reads focus statement: Three meals are recounted in today’s readings. This first is probably a cultic sacrificial meal offered by Melchizedek, a priest and the king of Salem. The second reading is Saint Paul’s description of ‘what had been handed on to him from the Lord’, namely the words and actions of the Last Supper. The third is the wonderful story of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Today’s solemnity gives us the opportunity to see the many facets of our weekly celebration of the Eucharist. Here, we remember the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary. We remember that Jesus Christ is present under the forms of bread and wine – real food and drink for our journey. And here, we experience a multiplication of grace and mercy as we humbly offer ourselves to God. Let us pray this day for a greater appreciation and love for the Body and Blood of Christ.

If you haven’t read the commentary on the readings, consider reading before or after each reading.

FIRST READING: GENESIS 14:18-20

In this short reading, Melchizedek, King of Salem (early name for Jerusalem) comes to greet Abraham who is returning from a victorious battle. Melchizedek, who is also a priest, blesses Abraham with bread and wine. In early Christian tradition, the bread and wine were taken to prefigure the bread and wine of the Eucharist. Melchizedek, a man of unknown origins, was also seen to prefigure Christ. Just as the bread and wine celebrate Abraham’s victory over his enemies and his reunion with his brother, Lot, so does our Eucharistic sacrifice celebrate Jesus’ victory over death, evil and sin and enable us to remember our union with Jesus. In a response, Abraham gives Melchizedek a tithe of all he had. This is one of the first references to tithing in the Bible.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 110:1-4

This is a royal psalm extolling the Davidic Kingship. It may have been addressed to a king on the day of his coronation by a court singer.

SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

This is the most ancient text we have on the origin of the Eucharistic sacrifice of Christ. Since Paul was not present at the Last Supper, he is passing on what he himself received. Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to his disciples. When he did this, Jesus identified himself with the bread and wine. "This is my body . . . my Blood . . . broken and poured out for you," i.e., Jesus’ life was broken and poured out for the salvation of all people.

"Do this in remembrance of me,", do what I have done. In doing so, we are proclaiming and making present Jesus, our Redeemer. "Do this . . ." also calls us to live the meaning of the Eucharist – like Jesus, we must be ready to lay down our lives for one another, thereby participating in the dying and rising of Christ.

GOSPEL: Luke 9:11-17

This is the only miracle story recorded in all four Gospels. Jesus is out in the desert with a large crowd of people teaching them about the reign of God and healing their sick. As evening draws near, the Twelve suggest that the people be dismissed so that they can go to the local villages for food and shelter. But Jesus challenges the Twelve to provide food. Then Jesus tells the Twelve to break the large crowds into small groups. Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it and gives it to his disciples to share. Jesus’ action has clear Eucharistic overtones. At the Last Supper, he will also take, bless, break and give bread to the Twelve.

"All are satisfied" and there are 12 baskets left over. These simple words give us the meaning of this event, namely, that Jesus is the bread that satisfies our soul-hungers and he is the One who blesses us with abundance. The story also tells us that when we offer Jesus the little we have, he will bless and multiply it and use it to bless and nourish others.

"Give them something to eat yourselves" is a challenge to the Church to feed the physical and soul-hungers of people.

FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS

1. What verse, image or idea spoke to you in the readings?

2. Do you tend to limit your understanding of the Body of Christ to the bread you receive at Mass or do you have a more expansive and global sense of the Body of Christ as including all people of our planet?

3. The Vatican II document on the Sacred Liturgy states that the aim to be considered above all else is the full active participation of the people at Mass. To what extent is this true in your parish? What helps and hinders you from being more fully engaged in the Mass?

4. How has your understanding of the Eucharist grown over the years?

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Name one way you can act on today’s readings. Suggestions: Read an article that may help you to grow in your appreciation of the Eucharist. Be more conscious that in sharing your life with others you are being Eucharist for them.

CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION

Pray that each of us may learn to connect the Eucharist more and more with our everyday lives.