READINGS:   Genesis 14:18-20   /   Psalm 110:1.2.3.4   /   1 Corinthians 11:23-26   /     LUKE 9:11-17

HIS WORD…“GIVE THEM SOME FOOD YOURSELVES… HAVE THEM SIT DOWN IN GROUPS OF ABOUT FIFTY…” THEN TAKING THE FIVE LOAVES AND THE TWO FISH, AND LOOKING UP TO HEAVEN, HE SAID THE BLESSING OVER THEM, BROKE THEM, AND GAVE THEM TO THE DISCIPLES TO SET BEFORE THE CROWD.

my words… Today, we have four beautiful readings for this “Corpus Christi” Sunday of Year C. They speak of the basic elements of the Holy Mass; namely, the Priesthood, which is according to the order of Melchizedek, the Tithing, the formula of the Consecration, the Miraculous Feeding with the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, and the Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC)being alluded to.

The Priesthood according to the Order of Melchizedek reminds us that in the Old Testament time there emerged; first, the priesthood of the First Born or popularly called the “Family Priesthood”; but was laicized by God when they worship the golden calf. Then this priesthood was passed on to the tribe Levi, thus emerged the second, the “Levitical Priesthood”; but this priesthood expires towards a specific age or upon the succession of the first born Levite son. Then the eldest son of Noah by the name of Shem went away from his family and lived in the Temple of Jerusalem and who night and day served the temple and acquired the holiness of a king (melchi = holy or chosen one; zedek = king), thus king of Salem, and consequently acquired the permanent priesthood that will never expire = a priest forever. And this is the priesthood that Jesus took upon himself, “a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek” (Responsorial Psalm). And this is also the priesthood being sacramentalized by the Catholic Church until today (Jeff Cavins: The Bible Timeline, from Adam to Jesus Christ). And we can usually find this being inscribed on the invitation cards for sacerdotal ordination, “A priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

In the first reading, Melchizedek, being a priest of God Most High, blessed Abram. Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything = TITHE or TITHING (Gen 14:18-20). Non-Catholic religions implement this norm strictly (that is why they easily become rich…). But for us Catholics, we transform TITHING into “Love Offering” = the offerings coming from ones heart’s generosity for we believe that Christianity is the religion of the heart.

In the Second Reading (1Cor 11:23-26), St. Paul presented the essence of the CONSECRATION part of the Mass, the Body of Jesus as “food-remembrance” and His blood as the “seal of the new and everlasting covenant.” And by celebrating this sacrament, we proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes (vs 26). In the Gospel, we find Jesus challenging the Apostles to they themselves give food to the people (Lk 9:13). And Jesus further insinuated the first BEC idea, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty” (Lk 9:14). Then comes the Eucharistic gestures of taking the five loaves and two fish, giving thanks to heaven, saying the blessing, breaking them, and giving them to the disciples for distribution (Lk 9:16). That constitutes the basic gestures and essences of the HOLY MASS. And after eating (Holy Communion), they filled up twelve (12) wicker baskets (Lk 9:17) = Sacred Hosts in the Tabernacle of the Church.

Brothers and Sisters, this is the bulk of the mystery of the Holy Eucharist that we celebrate today. It is Jesus Himself as Body and Blood coming to us as EUCHARISTIC FOOD that we may have life in Him.

VIVA… CORPUS ET SANGUINIS CHRISTI… (By Fr. Julius C. Lupot)