The solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), which the Church celebrates today, reminds us of all the beautiful gifts of God to us through Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. While the primary focus of this solemnity is on the spiritual nourishment that Christ gives us, its secondary focus is on the Body of Christ, which is the Church.
The Body and Blood of Christ (the Eucharist) is the most excellent gift ever given to us by Christ. It also shows how God loves and cares for both our temporal and spiritual welfare. Therefore, what we celebrate today is the sacramental presence of Christ in his Church. The gospel today tells us that Jesus fed five thousand men with five loaves and two fish! Indeed, the Lord feeds us with the material food of creation! The gospel tells us that Jesus also feeds us with spiritual food! That is why the four actions of Jesus in today’s gospel correspond to the four actions of Jesus in the institution of the Holy Eucharist, that is, take, thank, break, and give! In the Eucharist Jesus gives us his body to eat and his blood to drink
The Gospel Acclamation today express this:
“I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.” (Jn 6:51; NJB)
The second reading tells us that in the institution of the Eucharist, Jesus did four actions, that is, he took, he thanked, he broke, and he gave.
Jesus Christ gave us his life so we would be a part of him. Thus, he gave us himself, his life, his Spirit. That love is a covenant, an unbreakable bond with him. And he commanded us to do it in his memory, that is, to make present, real, and effective his death and resurrection for the salvation of the world.
That is why the second reading concludes by telling us that when we eat the bread and drink the cup, we are proclaiming the saving death of the Lord until he comes again. That is, the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ, effect salvation.
The first reading tells us about Melchizedek the priest-king. Melchizedek offered Abraham bread and wine, a symbol of the Eucharist! (Patristic tradition); Melchizedek blessed Abraham and Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything! (the beginning of tithes).
The letter to the Hebrews (7:1-10) sees in Melchizedek a type of Christ! Melchizedek had no beginning and no end. He was a priest forever! The responsorial psalm follows the theme of the first reading. Thus, the response:
“You are a priest forever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.” (Ps 110:4)
That is, Jesus Christ is a priest forever, a priest like Melchizedek of old!
Today an ordained priest continues in the priesthood of Jesus Christ! He does what Jesus asked him to do in his memory, that is, to make present, real, and effective his death and resurrection for our salvation.
Today the priest does the four actions Jesus did in the institution of the Eucharist, that is, he takes (Offertory), he thanks (Eucharistic Prayer), he breaks (Breaking of Bread), and he gives (Holy Communion)!
He gives the Body of Christ! The Risen Body is symbolized by the placing of the small piece of the broken host in the chalice! And when we eat the bread and drink the cup, we proclaim the saving death of the Lord until he comes again. Thus, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ effect salvation! Come to Mass every Sunday and tell others to come to Mass every Sunday! It is your salvation and my salvation! It is our salvation!
Fr. Alex Osei
SSC-USA Spiritual Director