Solemnity of the Holy Body & Blood of Christ
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.
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.
Gospel Reading: Luke 9:11-17
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: Fr. Sahaya G Selvam
Today we celebrate one of the two feasts that invite us to meditate on the mystery of the Eucharist. Another one is the Maundy Thursday. On the Maundy Thursday, the reflection on the Eucharist is centred on the Passover meal and the institution of the priesthood. That is also emotionally coloured by the impending passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. The feast of today gives us yet another opportunity to contemplate the mystery of the Eucharist.
The Eucharistic celebration is the enactment of the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary. Sure, the Holy Mass is a sacrifice. Now if it is only a sacrifice then the proper place for the priest during the Mass is on the side of the people. He offers the sacrifice together with the people on behalf of the people. The Eucharistic celebration is at once a sacrifice and a meal. (That is why the priest stands on the other side of the altar to create a circular appearance of a meal.) Eucharist is a sacrificial meal.
The Eucharistic celebration is the enactment of the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary. Sure, the Holy Mass is a sacrifice. Now if it is only a sacrifice then the proper place for the priest during the Mass is on the side of the people. He offers the sacrifice together with the people on behalf of the people. The Eucharistic celebration is at once a sacrifice and a meal. (That is why the priest stands on the other side of the altar to create a circular appearance of a meal.) Eucharist is a sacrificial meal.
