Body and Blood of Christ Year C 2022

Title

The Meal Depends on the Menu

Outline

Meals are significant events across the ages and around the world

A leadership couple in the Ivory Coast wanted to celebrate a successful retreat and get personal time with us, so they invited us to a nice restaurant

Something similar happened in Hong Kong when we were ministering there, but the group was larger and the meal different

And then there are the meals at which we celebrated events in our marriage or events in the lives of others in the family

But the meal depends on the menu - certain foods are celebratory and others usually not. I cannot think of a time of celebration with zucchini or spinach.

We celebrate God’s goodness with bread and, usually, wine.

Melchizedek, a priest, celebrates Abraham’s victory, which was God’s deliverance, with bread and wine and of course a verbal blessing, a praise of God. Abraham recognizes God’s sovereignty by giving a tenth to Melchizedek. While this is a shadow of what is to come, a prophetic event, it is also a culturally appropriate celebration, even if we know little about Melchizedek.

Jesus proclaims the Kingdom of God in word and deed, but he does not send folk home hungry, still having needs. He asks for total dedication, “all you have,” and takes that bread and, in this case, fish (which is always an added extra that shows up repeatedly in Jesus’ meals), and when it is blessed and given, it is more than enough, 12 baskets full more. On realizes that bread and other foods were shared in the banquet part of the Eucharist, before the offering to God in the center and the sharing of wine in the symposium. Enough for all; none went home hungry; the supply of God brings praise to people’s hearts.

Finally, in our readings we go to the core central sacrifice of a Roman banquet, but this time in the upper room associated with Passover. The Corinthians had been messing up the first portion: not sharing the food, some overeating, some drunk, some hungry - it was anything but a communal celebration and the focus was not on God’s acts.

Paul goes directly to the core: what is this all about. There is bread and there is wine, but in one of the few unoriginal things Paul says (since he is citing tradition and within that the words of Jesus) we discover “this is my body” and “this is my blood.” We discover it is a sacrifice, a “for you.” We discover it is a proclamation, a celebration of the event. And in fact it is an anamnesis, an entering into the very event itself and pulling it into the present. It has the Melchizedekian fullness and more in that Melchizedek thanks God for what had happened but the celebration does not participate in the field of battle.

[Brothers and] Sisters, this is what we celebrate

The first part, the meal that we read about in Hippolytus and other very early documents, is gone given the size of our gatherings, but we still prepare our hearts by sharing with one another, celebrating God’s good things, feeding on the Word, and the like. There is still bread and fish and plenty left over since the service of the word is ongoing.

Then comes the the sacrifice, the sacrifice that calls forth our sacrifice for God and for one another, the sacrifice that shows us the presence of Jesus himself, for it is his body and blood; the sacrifice that draws us into the saving event rather than leaving it in the past (for God is outside time).

Perhaps today we finish a bit too quickly, but with good reason. In an ideal world we would drink in the Spirit, share about the greatness of God, and remain in the presence of the left-over sacrament - but that is left for the eternal banquet with the Lord himself physically present.

Let us, however, be sure that we do worship with what we already have and do not become self-centered and selfish like the Corinthians. We are called to praise and adore the King and in that adoration to become one with him in a physical way. Abraham would understand that very well.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 6-19-2022: Body and Blood of Christ

FIRST READING

Genesis 14:18–20

18 Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. He was a priest of God Most High. 19 He blessed Abram with these words:

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,

the creator of heaven and earth;

20 And blessed be God Most High,

who delivered your foes into your hand.”

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Catholic Daily Readings 6-19-2022: Body and Blood of Christ

RESPONSE

Psalm 110:4b

4 The LORD has sworn and will not waver:

“You are a priest forever in the manner of Melchizedek.”

PSALM

Psalm 110:1–4

1 A psalm of David.

The LORD says to my lord:

“Sit at my right hand,

while I make your enemies your footstool.”

2 The scepter of your might:

the LORD extends your strong scepter from Zion.

Have dominion over your enemies!

3 Yours is princely power from the day of your birth.

In holy splendor before the daystar,

like dew I begot you.

4 The LORD has sworn and will not waver:

“You are a priest forever in the manner of Melchizedek.”

Catholic Daily Readings 6-19-2022: Body and Blood of Christ

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 11:23–26

23 For 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, 24 and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 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.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

Catholic Daily Readings 6-19-2022: Body and Blood of Christ

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 6:51

51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

GOSPEL

Luke 9:11b–17

11 The crowds, meanwhile, learned of this and followed him. He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed to be cured. 12 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.” 13 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.” 14 Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Then he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of [about] fifty.” 15 They did so and made them all sit down. 16 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. 17 They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 6-19-2022: Body and Blood of Christ

SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2022 | ORDINARY TIME

BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

In dioceses where The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ is observed on Sunday.

YEAR C | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

On the same date: 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading Genesis 14:18–20

Response Psalm 110:4b

Psalm Psalm 110:1–4

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 11:23–26

Gospel Acclamation John 6:51

Gospel Luke 9:11b–17

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