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THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS STILL HAS THE POWER

(A biblical reflection on the Solemnity of THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST – Sunday, 2^nd of June 2013)

Gospel Reading: Luke 9:11-17

First Reading: Gen 14:18-20; Psalms: Ps 110:1-4, Second Reading: 1Cor 11:23-26

The Scripture Text

When the crowds learned it, they followed Him; and He welcomed them and spoke to them of the Kingdom of God, and cured those who had need of healing. Now the day began to wear away; and the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, to go into the villages and country round about, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a lonely place.” But He said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish – unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” For there were about five thousand men. And He said to His disciples, “make them sit down in companies, about fifty each.” And they did so, and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fist he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate and were satisfied. And they took up what was left over, twelve baskets of broken pieces. (Lk 9:11-17 RSV)

Corpus Christi Sunday is a day when we celebrate Jesus’ goodness in feeding us through the Eucharist. In recounting the feeding of the 5,000 (at least), Luke tells how Jesus had intended to withdraw with His apostles for rest, but instead welcomed the throng that crowded around Him. Like a gentle shepherd, He tended to the sick, taught them about the Kingdom, and miraculously provided them with food. He ministered to them until everyone was satisfied (Lk 9:17).

As he wrote to the troubled church in Corinth, Saint Paul explained that Jesus is still able to care for his people: “As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1Cor 11:26). Every time we read the scriptures, we can be refreshed. Every time we pray, we can be filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ sacrifice – which we recall at every Mass – still has the power to wash away our sins and fill us with divine life.

The bread and wine transformed into Jesus’ body and blood can truly sustain us as we approach His altar with humble hearts. At the same time, whenever we eat and drink, we also look for the day when Jesus will come again. Then, He Himself will feed us directly, no longer through word and sacrament. “… He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:4).

In the Holy Mass, let us eat and drink of Jesus with grateful hearts. It is HE who feeds us. It is HE who can meet all our physical and spiritual needs. Let us look for the day when Jesus will be with us. As Christians, all of our hope is centered on it.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, in Your words, we find truth. In Your wounds, we find life. In Your precious blood, we find the power to draw near to You. In Your death, we find life. In Your resurrection, we find hope for eternal life. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

A Christian Pilgrim

LUKE AND BREAD

(A biblical reflection on the Solemnity of THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST – Sunday, 2^nd of June 2013)

First Reading: Gen 14:18-20; Psalms: Ps 110:1-4, Second Reading: 1Cor 11:23-26; Gospel Reading: Luke 9:11-17

The story of how Jesus fed the multitude, as told by Luke, prefigures the ministry of the apostles in the Christian community. The actions of Jesus in taking, blessing, breaking and distributing the food would become the Eucharistic actions. The work of the apostles was foreshadowed when Jesus told them, “Give them something to eat yourselves.”

Bread is surely the most relevant symbol of hope for a world in which half the population suffer from shortage of food. Little wonder that Jesus should choose bread as the memorial sign of His presence and care in the world.

Although in our western society doctors more often ask patients to cut back on their intake of food and drink, Luke, the physician, is fascinated by food.
Every chapter of his gospel has mention of food and eating. It has been remarked that Luke presents Jesus either going to a table, at a table, or coming from a table. Robert J. Karris, in his book, Luke: Artist and Theologian, (Paulist Press), has a fascinating chapter on the theme of food.

The conception of Jesus in celebrated in the canticle of Mary as God filling the starving with good things. Then Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which means the house of bread. His first cot was a feeding trough borrowed from animals.

Before commencing His public ministry He fasted for forty days. In fasting, He manifested His solidarity with the hungry of the world. He relied absolutely on the providence of the Father rather turn stones into bread. He responded to the tempter’s first attack that man does not live on bread alone. Thus He recognized the value of fasting in giving priority to the leading of the Spirit over the demands of the flesh. Later, however, Jesus was very critical of those who abused fasting as a way of winning the esteem of others.

There were meals of celebration, as in the house of Levi, and at the return of the prodigal son. And there were meals to relax with friends, as with Martha and Mary. There are several references to meals on the Sabbath, the day of rest.

Jesus was the guest who brought to the table more than He received. At various tables He brought pardon to the sinful woman, friendship to Zacchaeus and faith to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Much of His teaching was imparted at meals. There He drew attention to the foolish pride of those who vied for the places of honor at table. He taught that our tables should be anticipations of the final messianic banquet with special consideration being given to the beloved poor of God. Lazarus, the beggar at the gate, is the personification of God’s beloved poor.

Jesus told a story about God as the master who dons the apron to serve the faithful servant. And at the last supper Jesus moved among the apostles as one who serves.

The behavior of Jesus at table so challenged the accepted pious traditions that He drew condemnation upon His head. He was accused of being a glutton and a drunkard. There was a loud complaint that He “welcomes sinners and cats with them.” Karris comes to the provocative conclusion that Jesus got Himself crucified by the way He ate.

When He taught His followers a prayer which would express their Christian identity, the petition for today’s needs is a request for bread. And Jesus arranged that the celebration of His memory would be in a meal: “Do this in memory of Me.” The risen Lord was recognized by two disciples at the breaking of bread. And would you believe what He asked of the dumbfounded apostles when He appeared to them in the Upper Room: “Have you anything here to eat?”

This theme of food continues into the Acts of the Apostles. The breaking of bread was one of the cornerstones of the early community. And when Peter was establishing his credentials as a witness his claim was: “We have eaten and drunk with Him after His resurrection from the dead.” (Acts 10:41).

The day when Jesus fed the multitude in the lonely place was lide a summary of His mission. He welcomed the crowds … even though they were wrecking His plans for a day of retreat with the apostles. He talked to them about the Kingdom of God. He brought healing to those who needed it. And He fed them in their hunger.

Bread is a symbol of the outreach of God to His children in welcome, enlightenment, healing and sustaining.

Note: Taken from Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFMCap., THE GOOD NEWS OF LUKE’S YEAR, Dublin, Ireland: Cathedral Books/The Columbia Press, Revised Edition, 1991 (1994 reprinting), pages 111-113.