Enkindle in Them the Fire of Your Love: Solemnity of Corpus Christi (C)

Liturgical readings

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

"He said the blessing, broke them, and gave to His disciples to distribute."

The bible passage for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi is from the gospel of Luke. It tells the story of crowds following Jesus, who Himself welcomed them, talked to them about God's Kingdom, and cured those who were in need of healing. As the time passed, Jesus and His disciples suddenly became aware that this vast crowd would need to eat. And there were about 5,000 men - not counting women and children. So, the apostles went about and reported to Jesus that there was on hand five loaves and two fish. Jesus ordered the apostles to have the people sit in groups of fifty. Then Jesus performed what we often see in movies which depict Him performing this miracle - the multiplication of the loaves. After everyone had their fill, the remaining scraps filled up twelve baskets.

Bible scholar Robert J. Karris links the themes of Kingdom of God, food, and the superabundance of nourishment (in reference to the excess in the twelve baskets) to the sacrament of the Eucharist. The link can be roughly made through the key verse where Jesus "said a blessing over the loaves and the fish, broke them, and handed them to His disciples to distribute among the crowd." This story of the multiplication of the bread is a kind of "preview" to what will be also said in the Last Supper. Because if we check the words in the Last Supper accounts, we will also find the key words "take", "give thanks/bless", "broke", and "gave". And these same words are also found in the sacramentary of the priest - which He prays during the Mass:

As we celebrate the Eucharist, we can be reminded not only of the Last Supper gospel accounts, but also of the very life ministry and mission of Jesus: how He taught the Kingdom of God, fed crowds through the miracle of the loaves, cured a lot of those who are in need of healing, preached goodness and kindness by His example, and was available to anyone who called for Him, pleaded for His help, or sought His mercy and forgiveness. Jesus in the Eucharist reminds us in Word and Sacrament that He is the Source of Life for all of us. As He began this in His public ministry, it continues to be His mission through the Church in the Eucharist.

Points for reflection: Do I thank God for the gift of the Eucharist in my Christian life? What step can I take so that I may not only grow in devotion to this sacrament, but also learn more deeply that it is in Christ where I can find the true Source of life?