All Ate and Were Satisfied
Introduction: Body and Blood of Christ: May you continue to come to the Lord Jesus and be fed by Him, and in return, give thanks to GOD as you proclaim the Good News by living out your relationship with Jesus.
Sharing a meal with another symbolizes a desire to be united with that person. We celebrate key points in our lives by coming together and eating. It also gives us an opportunity to share our story with others. It is no wonder that Jesus chose to allow His followers to stay in touch with Him by sharing a meal and remembering Him. How blessed are we as we come to the table of the Lord Jesus and feast on Him Who died and rose for us. May we continue to give thanks to GOD for allowing us to be one with the Lord Jesus.
On this day, we celebrate the Lord Jesus’ giving of His Body and Blood to us, in reality, by His freely chosen death and resurrection, and sacramentally in the Eucharist. Years ago, this solemnity was called by its Latin name Corpus Christi – “Body of Christ.” Our readings remind us today that the newer name for this celebration is the Body and Blood of Christ.
Our readings give very different insights into the celebration of the Body and Blood of Christ. The First Reading describes the gifts of Melchizedek, the priest-king of Salem (Shalom - peace). The gifts were bread and wine. The Responsorial Psalm describes David’s Lord (his descendant who will be more important than David himself), who will be both king and priest. The passage from 1 Corinthians is the first written account of the celebration of the first Eucharist at the Last Supper and its application to the regular worship service of the early Christians. The Gospel is the pericope of one of Jesus’ multiplications of loaves in order to feed the people.
First Reading: Genesis 14:18-20: He offered bread and wine.
Commentary: Melchizedek is a historically mysterious figure, king of Salem, who suddenly appears from nowhere to greet Abraham and bless him. In gratitude, Abraham gives Melchizedek a tenth of the spoil he has just won in battle. The only other mention of Melchizedek in the Old Testament is in Psalm 110, where he is the priest-king of Jerusalem. The early verses of this Psalm are frequently used in the New Testament to show the exaltation of Christ to the right hand of the Father at the resurrection: ‘sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool’. In the New Testament, the whole Psalm is therefore understood of Christ, and so in the Letter to the Hebrews, the verse, ‘you are a priest according to the line of Melchizedek’ (originally meant of the priest-king of Jerusalem) is understood to refer to Christ’s priesthood. Christ is a priest not in the line of Aaron, but in the line of Melchizedek. The Letter further argues from the fact that Melchizedek blesses Abraham that Melchizedek’s priesthood is superior to that of Abraham and Aaron. So, by this slightly involved explanation, in this first reading, we are celebrating the priesthood of Christ, superior to the priesthood of the Old Law.
Responsorial Psalm
110:1. 2. 3. 4. You are a priest forever, according to the order of
Melchizedek.
The Responsorial Psalm is the prayer of David. In this prayer, David hears the LORD GOD call upon one of the descendants of David and call him “Lord.” This person will be like Melchizedek of old – priest and king – and will rule as King of Jerusalem and more. This descendant of David will be able to be called not only a descendant of David, but also the begotten one of GOD. It is no wonder that this psalm is applied to Jesus, the King of Peace, and only begotten Son of GOD, Who is the King and the Priest (and the Prophet).
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26: For as often as
you eat and drink, you proclaim the Lord’s death.’
Commentary: Paul gives us the story of this meal, which he had received from what was already traditional, hardly a dozen years after the Last Supper, well before the Gospels were written
Jesus himself was the lamb who was to be sacrificed, and his new covenant was sealed, not in blood sprinkled, but in his own blood consumed. It was a ‘memorial’, that is, an effective re-enactment, actually renewing the act of dedication and union. In today’s reading, Paul rebukes the Corinthians for re-enacting this significant moment thoughtlessly, as though it were an ordinary festive meal; they had lost the intention and seriousness. They were no longer proclaiming the death of Jesus, no longer engaging themselves in the new covenant. It is a dangerous thing to commit oneself to a new covenant sealed by death and leading to new life
Gospel; Luke 9:11 b-17: All ate and were satisfied.
Commentary: On the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, should we not have the gospel reading about the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper? No, the Church puts before us this reading of the wonderful gift of food by Jesus. It is a sort of open-air picnic Eucharist. So it begins with Jesus talking to them about the Kingdom of God; this is what happens in the earlier part of our Eucharist, as we listen to the readings and the homily on them. Then he heals those who are in need of healing, and that means all of us, for we are always in need of healing in various ways. If you don’t think you need to be healed, don’t come to the Eucharist. Only then does he raise his eyes to heaven, bless the bread, and distribute it, just as Jesus gives himself to us in the Eucharist. A sign of the generosity and plenty of Jesus’ gifts in the Eucharist is given by the twelve baskets of leftovers, ready for consumption by the twelve tribes of the new Israel. In the same way, on the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, we share joyfully in the sustenance which Jesus gives to us and to the huge numbers of his followers across the world.
Reflection: Do you hunger for God and for the abundant life he offers you through Jesus Christ? Jesus' feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels. What is the significance of this miracle? The miraculous feeding of such a great multitude pointed to God's provision of manna (bread) in the wilderness for the people of Israel under Moses' leadership. When the people complained to Moses that they would die of hunger in the barren wilderness, God told Moses that he would "rain bread from heaven" for them to eat (Exodus 16:4,11-12). The miraculous provision of bread foreshadows the true heavenly bread which Jesus offers his followers who believe in him. Jesus makes a claim only God can make: He is the "bread of life" (John 6:35) and the "true bread of heaven" that sustains us now and for all eternity (John 6:58).
A sign of God's great generosity and goodness towards us: Jesus' feeding of the five thousand is a sign of God's generous care and provision for his people. When God gives, he gives abundantly. He gives more than we need for ourselves so that we may have something to share with others, especially those in need. God takes the little we have and multiplies it for the good of others. Do you trust in God's provision for you, and do you share freely with others, especially those who lack what they need?
On the eve of the exodus of the Jewish people from bondage in Egypt, God commanded his people to celebrate the Passover meal, with the blessing of unleavened bread and wine, and the sacrificial offering of an unblemished lamb (Exodus 12:5-8). The blood of the lamb was sprinkled on the doorposts as a sign of God's protection from the avenging angel of death who passed over the homes sealed with the blood of the passover lamb (Exodus 12:7,13). Every year in commemoration of the Exodus deliverance, the Jewish people celebrate a Passover meal with unleavened bread as a pledge of God's faithfulness to his promises (Exodus 12:14; see Paul's description of the Christian Passover in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8). The "cup of blessing" at the end of the Jewish Passover meal points to the messianic expectation when the future Redeemer, the Messiah King, will come to rebuild his holy city Jerusalem.
Jesus poured out his blood for us: At Jesus' last supper meal, after he had poured the final blessing cup of wine and had given thanks to his Father in heaven, he gave it to his disciples and said, "Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:27-28). Jesus did this as a memorial of his death, which would take place the next day on the cross of Calvary, and his resurrection, which occurred on the third day - Easter morning. The shedding of Jesus' blood on the cross fulfilled once and for all the old covenant sacrifice of the paschal lamb at Passover time (Hebrews 10:11-14; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19). That is why John the Baptist had prophetically called Jesus the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
Jesus made himself an offering and sacrifice, a perfect gift that was truly pleasing to the Father in heaven. He "offered himself without blemish to God" (Hebrews 9:14) and "gave himself as a sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:2). Jesus established the Lord's Supper and Eucharist as a memorial of his death and resurrection, and he commanded his disciples to celebrate it until his return again in glory.
"The food that makes us live forever in Jesus Christ": When we receive from the Lord's table, we unite ourselves to Jesus Christ, who makes us sharers in his body and blood. Ignatius of Antioch (35-107 A.D.) calls it the "one bread that provides the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live forever in Jesus Christ" (Ad Eph. 20,2). This supernatural food is healing for both body and soul and strength for our journey heavenward.
When you approach the Table of the Lord, what do you expect to receive? Healing, pardon, comfort, and rest for your soul? The Lord has much more for us, more than we can ask or imagine. The principal fruit of receiving the Eucharist is an intimate union with Christ. As bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens us in charity and enables us to break with disordered attachments to creatures and to be more firmly rooted in the love of Christ. Do you hunger for the "bread of life"?
Lord Jesus, you nourish and sustain us with your very own presence and life. You are the "Bread of Life" and the "Cup of Salvation". May I always hunger for you and be satisfied in you alone.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Christ has yet to feed them with stronger food, by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.
"The order of the mystery is preserved everywhere. The first healing is bestowed on wounds through the remission of sins. Then the nourishment of the heavenly table abounds, although this multitude is not yet refreshed with stronger foods, nor do hearts hungry for more solid faith feed on the body and blood of Christ (Hebrews 5:12-14). He says, 'I gave you milk to drink, not meat. For you then were not strong, nor are you yet' (1 Corinthians 3:2). The five loaves are like milk, but the more solid meat is the body of Christ, and the stronger drink is the blood of the Lord (Luke 22:19-20). Not immediately at first do we feast on all foods, nor do we drink all drinks. 'First drink this,' he says. Thus, there is a first, then a second thing that you drink. There is also a first thing that you eat, then a second, and then a third. At first, there are five loaves, then there are seven (Matthew 15:34). The third loaf is the true body of Christ. So, then, let us never abandon such a Lord. He agrees to bestow on us nourishment according to the strength of each, lest either too strong a food oppress the weak or too meager a nourishment not satisfy the strong."(excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 6.71-72)
Jesus, consume me: “Every time, then, you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes!” —1 Corinthians 11:26. When we celebrate the Eucharist at Mass or visit the Blessed Sacrament in Eucharistic Adoration, there are notes of discordance:
We recall that the Eucharist is linked to Jesus being betrayed and handed over (1 Cor 11:23), we recall that the Body of Christ is broken (1 Cor 11:24), and we recall that the Eucharist is a sacrifice. Jesus is the Lamb of God who was slain (Rev 5:6) and offered as a Victim (Is 53:7), and the death of Jesus is proclaimed (1 Cor 11:26).
Reflecting on these painful aspects of the Holy Eucharist, we realize that we are being called, even commanded, to join in that sacrifice. By partaking of the Eucharist, we covenant with Jesus by being joined to His Body. We are called to embrace the cross.
We consume the Body and Blood of Jesus as our Food (Jn 6:55). Then we allow the Lord to consume us (see Heb 12:29). Knowing this, stop and reflect before you receive the Eucharist today. Will you let the Eucharistic Jesus consume you?
Prayer: Jesus, I am all Yours. Consume me and use me as You will. “They all ate until they had enough. What they had left, over and above, filled twelve baskets.” —Lk 9:17 “Sweet Sacrament, we Thee adore. O, make us love Thee more and more.”
The personal action for today: How well do I proclaim the death of the Lord through my participation in the Eucharistic celebration? Can people sense my communion (union with) Jesus as I receive the Bread of Life and drink from the Cup of Salvation? When I leave church after participation in the Eucharist, do I continue to proclaim the death and resurrection of Jesus by the way I treat others?
*Corpus Christi: The feast of the Precious Blood of our Lord was instituted in 1849 by Pius IX, but the devotion is as old as Christianity. The early Fathers say that the Church was born from the pierced side of Christ, and that the sacraments were brought forth through His Blood.
The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. The term “Eucharist” originates from the Greek word eucharistia, meaning thanksgiving. In the celebration of the Eucharist, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest.
At the heart of this solemnity is the celebration of Christ’s constant presence here on earth, fully alive in the Eucharist. On Corpus Christ in 2022, Pope Francis reflected on the discreet yet powerful nature of the Eucharist recounted in the Gospels:
“The miracle of the loaves and
fish does not happen in a spectacular way, but almost discreetly, like the
wedding at Cana — the bread increases as it passes from hand to hand. And as
the crowd eats, they realize that Jesus is taking care of everything. This is
the Lord present in the Eucharist. He calls us to be citizens of Heaven, but at
the same time, he takes into account the journey we have to face here on earth.
If I have hardly any bread in my sack, he knows and takes care of it himself.” Pope Francis
This is the true meaning of the Eucharist – that He is here, with us. As St. Thérèse of Lisieux once wrote in a letter to a friend, “Oh, my darling, think, then, that Jesus is there in the Tabernacle expressly for you, for you alone.”
