‘This is my body, which is for you’
The feast of Corpus Christi honours Jesus Christ, who is truly made present to us through the bread and wine. We celebrate also the Church as the living Body of Christ in all its humanity and messiness.
Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a high priest, brings bread and wine and blesses Abram after Abram’s victory in battle. This foretells Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice of himself, and of how we are united with him through the Eucharist. (First Reading)
The Psalm continues with this theme, proclaiming the destiny of Jesus as saviour, overcoming sin, evil and death for all.
In the Second Reading, Paul is responding to reports of the Corinthians’ inappropriate and abusive behaviour, particularly during the celebration of the Eucharist. His retelling of the Last Supper is a reminder of the sacredness and unity of the sacrament and the need to honour Jesus’s great sacrifice.
The Gospel recounts the miracle of the loaves and fishes. The food multiplies as it is handed from person to person, reminding us that God’s love is to be shared with others and is abundant.
As Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee year, we pray that we will be united in the healing power of God’s unending love. Through sharing in the Eucharist, we are provided with the living bread that gives us strength and nourishment for all of life’s struggles.
