This is My Body That is For You

Readings for Sunday, June 23 — Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Genesis 14:18-20; Psalm 110:1-4; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Luke 9:11B-17

Suggested Reflection Questions:

  • Both the reading from Genesis and the psalm refer to Melchizedek, a priest and king in the time of Abraham. His name is a combination of the Hebrew words “melech” meaning king and “tzedek” meaning righteous. Jesus is our righteous priest and king forever. What does it mean that Jesus is a priest? How does this relate to our celebration of Corpus Christi (or the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ)? How does one act like a priest and a king at the same time?
  • In his first letter to the Christian community in Corinth, Paul relates the story of the Last Supper. Jesus breaks the bread and tells his friends, “This is my body that is for you.” What does it mean that the Eucharist — the Body and Blood of Christ — is “for you?” How do we remember Jesus in the Eucharist? How does this help us to remember him in our day-to-day lives when we might not take communion like we do on Sundays?
  • The disciples are anxious that the throngs of people who have followed Jesus off the beaten path will be hungry. Today’s reading from Luke’s Gospel shows us that Jesus is not anxious at all, even when being faced with a big problem. He provides for everyone’s needs abundantly. Often we’re anxious about following Jesus off the beaten path in our own lives. How does the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 illustrate God’s faithfulness? How can we practice the calmness that Jesus displays when addressing problems in our own lives?