Corpus Christi, Year C

Genesis 14:18-20
Ps 110
1Corinthians 11:23-26
Luke 9:11-17

                              "THIS IS MY BODY",...."THIS IS MY BLOOD"

Today, we celebrate Corpus Christi, the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. One thing that cuts across the readings is “bread and wine.” Bread is a necessity of life and the fruit of human labour. Wine is the symbol of joy and of divine communion. In the first reading, the mysterious king of Salem (king of peace) and priest of God Most High, Melchizedek brought bread and wine to offer in thanksgiving on behalf of Abraham who had won a battle against the kings of the valley.

The gospel reading is the Lukan account of the multiplication of loaves and fish. Out of five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus fed five thousands men, and there was twelve baskets of leftover fragments. This account has a Eucharistic undertone: Jesus took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to the disciples to be shared among the people.

These are the words we find in the institution narratives as recorded by St Paul in the second reading. And these are words the priest speaks over the bread and wine during consecration at Holy Mass. By the words “this is my body…”, “this is my blood…” Jesus identified the bread with his Body and the wine with his Blood. As such, the bread we take and the wine we drink are really the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is a person of hospitality and has compassion for us. He wants to feed us always. And he does so with his own body and blood. In the Eucharist therefore, Jesus gives himself to us as food and drink. Moreover, through the story of the multiplication of bread, we see the power of God at work in Jesus. He satisfies all our needs. This reminds us of his call: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). May we find joy, peace, breakthrough, strength and rest in Jesus who is really present in the Eucharist. Amen.