The Body and Blood of Christ

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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Christ. The readings for today all point toward the Eucharist in an interesting way.

In the first reading from Genesis 14, we see the brief story of Melchizedek, the priest/king who was a type of Christ. What did Melchizedek bring as an offering? Bread and wine. In the second reading from 1 Corinthians 11, St. Paul recounts the Last Supper, where Jesus took bread and said, “This is my body,” and the wine, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.” It all adds up nicely.

The Gospel reading is from Luke 9, where Jesus feeds five thousand with five loaves and two fish. Wait a minute, you say. What does this have to do with the Eucharist? That five thousand represents all humanity. Jesus showed His compassion and His heart by feeding everyone. And just as He did with the people that day with loaves and fishes, so He would go on to do for all humanity with His Body and Blood. Jesus knows that our hunger goes much deeper than just our stomachs. We hunger for eternity. And in the Eucharist, Jesus delivers.

Father, we thank you for the precious gift of the Body and Blood of Christ. May it nourish us for eternity. Amen.

Today’s Readings

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