June 2, 2013

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The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ 

Read more about the Solemnity of Corpus Christi (the body of Christ)

Lectionary: 169

Reading 1GN 14:18-20

In those days, Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine,
and being a priest of God Most High,
he blessed Abram with these words:
"Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
the creator of heaven and earth;
and blessed be God Most High,
who delivered your foes into your hand."
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

The Holy Eucharist was foreshadowed early in the plan of salvation when Melchizedek provided bread and wine for a thanksgiving sacrifice unto God.

Responsorial PsalmPS 110:1, 2, 3, 4

R. (4b) You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The LORD said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand
till I make your enemies your footstool."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The scepter of your power the LORD will stretch forth from Zion:
"Rule in the midst of your enemies."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
"Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The LORD has sworn, and he will not repent:
"You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

Melchizedek was a priest before the Leviticial priesthood was established by God through Moses.  The Levitical priesthood has been abolished and the older priesthood in the same style as that of Melchizedek has been restored.

The Melchizedek priesthood was one of Father to Son.  Melchizedek is Shem, the son of Noah and received the priesthood from Noah.  Christ's is the Son of God and receives the priesthood from His Father in heaven.  We share in His priesthood.    

Reading 21 COR 11:23-26

Brothers and sisters:
I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, 
that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, 
took bread, and, after he had given thanks,
broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, 
"This cup is the new covenant in my blood.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, 
you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

Just as Melchizedek brought the bread and wine, so did Jesus.  But Jesus converted the bread and wine into His Body and Blood and established the Holy Sacrament of union with Him which we call Eucharist.  Eucharist is Greek for Thanksgiving.  When we participate in the Holy Eucharist, we are giving thanks to God and uniting ourselves to Him through His Son.

GospelLK 9:11B-17

Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God,
and he healed those who needed to be cured.
As the day was drawing to a close,
the Twelve approached him and said,
"Dismiss the crowd
so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms
and find lodging and provisions;
for we are in a deserted place here."
He said to them, "Give them some food yourselves."
They replied, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have,
unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people."
Now the men there numbered about five thousand.
Then he said to his disciples,
"Have them sit down in groups of about fifty."
They did so and made them all sit down.
Then taking the five loaves and the two fish,
and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing over them, broke them,
and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.
They all ate and were satisfied.
And when the leftover fragments were picked up,
they filled twelve wicker baskets.

The feeding of the five thousand is an apt symbol of the Church, where God feeds the multitudes throughout the world, with His Body and Blood.