The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Scripture:
Genesis 14:18-20
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Luke 9:11b-17
Reflection:
On Sunday, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. This feast calls to mind the total gift of Jesus’ self for our salvation, and consequently, the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of the Church.
Our readings point out certain aspects of the Eucharist and what it means to be church and to live Christian lives. One of the reasons we come to celebrate the Eucharist is to give thanks, as we see in our first reading (Genesis 14:18-20), when the priest and king Melchizedek comes to Abram with bread and wine and offers a blessing: “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.” When we come to Mass, we give thanks to God, for the Son of God becoming incarnate in order to deliver us from sin and the fear of death.
When we celebrate the Eucharist, we come to hear God’s word, as did the thousands of people who came to hear Jesus in our Gospel reading (Luke 9:11b-17). I often imagine these crowds coming to Jesus, desperate to hear some Good News! Whatever concerns or issues we bring with us when we come to Mass, we can hear God speak of His love for us.
In our second reading (1 Corinthians 11:23-26), St. Paul writes to his brothers and sisters about what was handed to him about Jesus’ words at the Last Supper. We believe that the bread and wine become for us the Body and Blood of Jesus. In this way, the sacrifice of Jesus, made once for all, is made present to us, so that we can share in that sacrifice.
Hearing God’s word and receiving this intimate gift of Jesus’ self, poured out for us in love, we are nourished and empowered to fulfill the mission given to us as a church. Again, in our second reading, St. Paul writes: “for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.” We are to proclaim the Good News of God’s love in Jesus Christ until He comes again. People are still searching for something, or more accurately, Someone, to give them redemption and hope and purpose.
In our Gospel reading, after the crowds have heard Jesus, and He had healed those who needed healing, the disciples come to Jesus and suggest that He dismiss the crowds so that they could get something to eat. And Jesus says, “Give them some food yourselves.” I can imagine the agitation in the disciples’ voice when they say, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people.” Then Jesus takes what they have and multiplies it so that the people have enough to eat.
Jesus tells them to give the people food themselves. I am reminded of a quote from St. Louise de Marillac: “To share what one has is nothing if one does not give oneself.” I think that is what Jesus is getting at here. We are called not only to give what we may have, but to give of ourselves. Having been delivered and healed and comforted and reconciled and fed through the mercy and love and sacrifice of Jesus, we are called to bring comfort and healing and nourishment to others. We may not feel we have anything to offer, like five loaves and two fish in the presence of thousands, but Jesus can multiply our efforts, especially when we are willing to come together, so that people’s needs are met.
It is the Body and Blood of Jesus, the total gift of Himself, that enables us to go forth and follow His command to love. Sharing in the sacrifice, we are called to share in the Mission.
Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama.