[Salvation]

Sunday Scripture Study

 

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

June 2, 2013

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Opening Prayer  

First Reading: Genesis 14:18-20

Psalm: 110:1-4

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Gospel Reading: Luke 9:11b-17

• The account in this Sunday’s Gospel is, besides the Resurrection, the only one common to all four gospels (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; John 6:1-13).

• Jesus and his disciples are in Galilee and the disciples have just returned from being sent out to preach and heal the sick (Luke 9:1-6). The crowds go out to meet Jesus and he receives them (“welcomed” them, says the RSV) and, according to Mark’s gospel, “he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34).

• As it grows late, the disciples advise Jesus to send the crowds away to find lodging and food. When Jesus tells them to see to it themselves, they are incredulous: All they have on hand are five loaves and two fishes. How can they feed so many with so little?

• Jesus shows them that he is more than able to meet their needs—and then some. In this way he also foreshadows the abundance of his Kingdom—especially in the abundant life he offers through his own Body and Blood in the Most Holy Eucharist.

 

QUESTIONS:

• How do you account for the differences in the way Jesus and the disciples view the crowds? What thoughts must the disciples have as they collect the leftovers? Describe how the disciples might have felt in Luke chapter 9, verse 15. In verses 16-17? In verses 18-21?

• How does this story reflect Eucharistic language (Luke 22:19-20, 24:30; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)? What Old Testament event is similar (2 Kings 4:42-44)? How are the events related in the First Reading also a foreshadowing of the priesthood and the Eucharist?

• How does the function of distributing the loaves and fishes (verses 14-16) point to the disciple’s priesthood?

• How have you seen Jesus stretch your resources beyond what you could imagine?

• How has Jesus fed you when you’ve been spiritually hungry lately? When you sense that hunger, do you come searching for him, or do you usually try to fill up on something else first? If so what, what? Why?

Closing Prayer

Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 1335, 1329, 1338

 

If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion.

                                                                                                            - St. Maximilian Kolbe

[Salvation]

St. Paul Center Blog

Blessed and Given: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi

Posted by Dr. Scott Hahn on 05.31.13 |

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

At the dawn of salvation history, God revealed our future in figures. That’s what’s going on in today’s First Reading: A king and high priest comes from Jerusalem (see Psalm 76:3), offering bread and wine to celebrate the victory of God’s beloved servant, Abram, over his foes.

By his offering, Melchizedek bestows God’s blessings on Abram. He is showing us, too, how one day we will receive God’s blessings and in turn “bless God” - how we will give thanks to Him for delivering us from our enemies, sin and death.

As Paul recalls in today’s Epistle, Jesus transformed the sign of bread and wine, making it a sign of His body and blood, through which God bestows upon us the blessings of His “new covenant.”

Jesus is “the priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek,” that God, in today’s Psalm, swears will rule from Zion, the new Jerusalem (see Hebrews 6:20-7:3).

By the miracle of loaves and fishes, Jesus in today’s Gospel, again prefigures the blessings of the Eucharist.

Notice that He takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to the Twelve. You find the precise order and words in the Last Supper (see Luke 22:19) and in His celebration of the Eucharist on the first Easter night (see Luke 24:30).

The Eucharist fulfills the offering of Melchizedek. It is the daily miracle of the heavenly high priesthood of Jesus.

It is a priesthood He conferred upon the Apostles in ordering them to feed the crowd, in filling exactly twelve baskets with leftover bread - in commanding them on the night He was handed over: “Do this in remembrance of Me.”

Through His priests He still feeds us in “the deserted place” of our earthly exile.
And by this sign He pledges to us a glory yet to come. For as often as we share in His body and blood. we proclaim His victory over death, until He comes again to make His victory our own.