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June 17, 2022Reflection for Corpus Christi Sunday:
June 19, 2022
Gen 14:18-20: Before this passage showing Melchizedek blessing Abram, Abram has shown himself to be humble, unselfish and generous, Abram acknowledges God as the source of his military victories and he wants to proclaim God’s generosity as an acknowledgment of his total dependence upon God. Consequently, Abram lavishly shares the spoils of his combat victories with others. The blessing of Melchizedek, who is high priest and king links Abraham as a foreshadowing of David, who will in the future, be king of Jerusalem. The continuity of this priestly royal lineage, from Abraham, to David and later, to Jesus, is emphasized by this passage. Even Melchizedek’s display of hospitality in serving bread and wine can be seen as a foreshadowing of the Eucharistic feast. Ponder that our God always models humble sharing and extravagant generosity!
Psalm 119: “You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.” This psalm is addressed to the king; acknowledging his authority. The first verse shows special favor to the king, inviting him to sit at God’s right hand, with a promise to make him victorious over his enemies. As in the first reading, God is acknowledged as the source of the king’s victories. In the second verse, God promises to extend the king’s power and authority over a wider area; that even includes the land of the king’s enemies. In verse three, God’s eternal plan for His Son from the beginning is alluded to. God addresses the king as a father would His Son; suggesting a very intimate connection between God and this king, whether it be David; or later, God’s only begotten Son, Jesus! Take time to thank God this week for His eternal plan to save us.
1 Cor 11:23-26: Continuing with the theme of recognizing that all that we have and are comes from God and not ourselves, St. Paul begins by reminding his listeners that he (Paul) had freely given to them what he, himself had freely received from Jesus: the Christian faith, the Gospel message and the Eucharistic feast. In describing Jesus’ offering up His very body and blood, Paul proclaims Jesus as the ultimate model of total self-giving and self-sacrifice; even to His very life. Lastly, Paul encourages all of us to receive the Eucharist with solemnity, humility and profound respect for our Lord. Each time we receive the Blessed Sacrament, we are proclaiming the death of the Lord until He comes again, as Paul poignantly reminds us. May we never take the Eucharist for granted, as we believe and know that Jesus, in the Eucharist, is truly the Body and Blood of Christ. Ponder that and know that!
Luke 9:11b-17: Here we see Jesus proclaiming the Kingdom of God and curing people. Via His healing miracles, Jesus shows us that the Kingdom of God is already upon us. Now, comes a foreshadowing of the Eucharist. Jesus miraculously feeds the hungry crowd. Like Melchizedek modeled hospitality and generosity in the first reading, Jesus embodies an even more radical and extravagant generosity. Jesus’ feeding the crowd, here points the way to His feeding us all with the eternal Bread from Heaven, which is our Lord, Himself in the Eucharistic meal.
Now, ponder something new. Before Jesus blessed the loaves and the fish, He looked up to Heaven. Once again, Jesu shows us that we must acknowledge that whatever we have, or are, comes from God. We must, eternally give thanks and acknowledge always our total dependence upon God for everything. Give glory and praise and thanks to God, forever!
Joyfully,
Deacon Matt