02 Jun 13, Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ; St. Marcellinus and St. Peter

FIRST READING

Genesis 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.

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RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4 (4b)

R. 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.

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SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 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.

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SEQUENCE

Lauda Sion

Laud, O Zion, your salvation, 

Laud with hymns of exultation, Christ, your king and shepherd true: 

Bring him all the praise you know, He is more than you bestow. Never can you reach his due. 

Special theme for glad thanksgiving Is the quick’ning and the living Bread today before you set: 

From his hands of old partaken, As we know, by faith unshaken, Where the Twelve at supper met. 

Full and clear ring out your chanting, Joy nor sweetest grace be wanting, From your heart let praises burst: 

For today the feast is holden, When the institution olden Of that supper was rehearsed. 

Here the new law’s new oblation, By the new king’s revelation, Ends the form of ancient rite: 

Now the new the old effaces, Truth away the shadow chases, Light dispels the gloom of night. 

What he did at supper seated, Christ ordained to be repeated, His memorial ne’er to cease: 

And his rule for guidance taking, Bread and wine we hallow, making Thus our sacrifice of peace. 

This the truth each Christian learns, Bread into his flesh he turns, To his precious blood the wine: 

Sight has fail’d, nor thought conceives, But a dauntless faith believes, Resting on a pow’r divine. 

Here beneath these signs are hidden Priceless things to sense forbidden; Sign, not things are all we see: 

Blood is poured and flesh is broken, Yet in either wondrous token Christ entire we know to be. 

Whoso of this food partakes, Does not rend the Lord nor breaks; Christ is whole to all that tastes: 

Thousands are, as one, receivers, One, as thousands of believers, Eats of him who cannot waste. 

Bad and good the feast are sharing, Of what divers dooms preparing, Endless death, or endless life. 

Life to these, to those damnation, See how like participation Is with unlike issues rife. 

When the sacrament is broken, Doubt not, but believe ‘tis spoken, That each sever’d outward token Doth the very whole contain. 

Nought the precious gift divides, Breaking but the sign betides Jesus still the same abides, Still unbroken does remain. 

Lo! the angel’s food is given To the pilgrim who has striven; See the children’s bread from heaven, Which on dogs may not be spent. 

Truth the ancient types fulfilling, Isaac bound, a victim willing, Paschal lamb, its lifeblood spilling, Manna to the fathers sent. 

Very bread, good shepherd, tend us, Jesu, of your love befriend us, You refresh us, you defend us, Your eternal goodness send us In the land of life to see. 

You who all things can and know, Who on earth such food bestow, Grant us with your saints, though lowest, Where the heav’nly feast you show, Fellow heirs and guests to be. Amen. Alleluia.

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ALLELUIA

John 6:51

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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GOSPEL

Luke 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.

REFLECTION:

Are you hungry for God and for the abundant life he offers you? Jesus put his disciples in a difficult spot when he commanded them to do what seemed impossible – to feed a large and hungry crowd when there was no adequate provision of food in sight. Jesus, no doubt wanted to test their faith and to teach them to rely upon God for their provision. The signs which Jesus did, including the miraculous feeding of the five thousand signified that God the Father had indeed sent his only begotten Son as the anointed Prophet, King, and Savior for his people. 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 in the wilderness for the people of Israel under Moses' leadership. This food foreshadowed the true heavenly bread which Jesus would offer his followers. Jesus makes a claim only God can make: He is the true bread of heaven that can satisfy the deepest hunger we experience. The feeding of the five thousand shows the remarkable generosity of God and his great kindness towards us. When God gives, he gives abundantly. He gives more than we need for ourselves 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?

Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand points to the superabundance of the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist. Jesus transforms the passover of the old covenant into the meal of the "new covenant in my blood". In the Old Covenant bread and wine were offered in sacrifice as a sign of grateful acknowledgment to their Creator. Melchizedek’s offering of bread and wine, who was both priest and king (Genesis 14:18), prefigured the offering made by Jesus, our high priest and king. The unleavened bread at Passover and the miraculous manna in the desert are the pledge of God's faithfulness to his promises. The "cup of blessing" at the end of the Jewish passover meal points to the messianic expectation of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Jesus gave a new and definitive meaning to the blessing of the bread and the cup when he instituted the "Lord's Supper" or "Eucharist".  He speaks of the presence of his body and blood in this new meal. When at the Last Supper Jesus described his blood “poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28), he was explaining his coming crucifixion as a sacrifice for sins. His death on the cross fulfilled the sacrifice of the paschal lamb. That is why John the Baptist called him the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Jesus made himself an offering and sacrifice, a gift that was truly pleasing to the Father. He “offered himself without blemish to God” (Hebrews 9:14) and “gave himself as a sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). This meal was a memorial of his death and resurrection. Do you hunger for the bread of life?

"Lord Jesus, you are the "Bread of Life" and the "Cup of Salvation". Fill me with gratitude and longing for the true Bread of Heaven which gives strength and healing for body and soul."